Anthony Taylor: The Truth About Strategic Planning

About Anthony Taylor:

Anthony Taylor is the CEO of SME Strategy. Anthony has facilitated strategy sessions for organizations big and small across North America and beyond. 

He is the author of two books and the host of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast. He holds a degree in business administration, with a specialization in marketing. Anthony speaks fluent French, loves soccer, and one of his life goals is to visit every MLB Stadium.

Anthony brings an electric energy that captivates and inspires people around him. His love for people and his commitment to their success comes through in his facilitations and everyday life.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Anthony Taylor discuss:

• The importance of strategic planning and how it links with the development of culture within organizations
• Common misunderstandings and misperceptions companies have about strategic planning and how these can hinder their success
• The role of culture change as a prerequisite for successful strategy implementation
• The significance of addressing team dynamics simultaneously for effective strategic plan execution
• The purpose and effectiveness of vision and mission statements in guiding organizations toward achievable goals

Key Takeaways:

• Effective strategic planning requires significant effort and collaboration among the organization to implement successfully over a two to three-year period.
• Creating clear agreements and processes within a team sets the foundation for trust and allows the team to work through tough issues, becoming better together.
• Strategic plans serve both internal and external purposes, supporting marketing, sales, and organizational goals, with the level of stakeholder involvement varying throughout the process.
• A vision statement is a fixed endpoint in time, while a mission statement is more of a general direction.
• Measuring values compliance is challenging, but aligning values with the vision through workshops, coaching, and reinforcing behaviors can lead to achieving the desired outcomes and behavior changes that support the organization's vision.

"A strategic plan should span 3-10 years, but it must remain flexible and adaptable to account for unpredictable changes in the external environment.” — Anthony Taylor

Connect with Anthony Taylor:  

Website URL: https://www.smestrategy.net/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOHLNRrpk3rGUdg7qUQjiog

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw

Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/

The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deannewlund/

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/deannewlund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MissionFacilitators/

Email: dean.newlund@mfileadership.com

Phone: 1-800-926-7370

Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.