Strategic Planning

1. The mission. Strategic planning starts with a mission that offers an organization a sense of purpose and direction. The organization mission statement describes who it is, what it does and where it wants to go.

2. The goals. Strategic planning involves selecting goals. Most planning uses SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound) or other objectively measurable goals. Measurable goals are important because they enable leaders to determine how well the organization is performing against goals and the overall mission.

3. Alignment with short-term goals. Strategic planning relates directly to short-term, tactical planning and can help leaders with everyday decision-making that better aligns with organization strategy.

4. Evaluation and revision. Strategic planning helps leaders periodically evaluate progress against the plan and make changes or adjustments in response to changing conditions.