A plan your team can repeat back is worth more than any binder. These answers cover the questions owners ask most. If you’d like help building your one-page plan, request a strategy call.
Straight answers
How long should a strategic plan be?
One page for the core plan. See strategic planning for small business.
How often should a small business do strategic planning?
Rewrite the plan annually, review it quarterly and track it weekly through goals and the scoreboard.
What's the difference between mission and vision?
Mission is what you do now and for whom; vision is where you’re going. See how to write a vision statement.
How many core values should we have?
Three to five, discovered from your best people. See company core values.
How many quarterly goals should we set?
Three to seven at the company level. See quarterly business goals.
Should we use OKRs?
They can help for measurable outcomes, kept few and reviewed weekly. See OKRs for small business.
Is SWOT still useful?
Yes, if it’s built on evidence and ends in decisions. See SWOT analysis for small business.
Why do strategic plans fail?
Too long, too many goals, no owners and no weekly or quarterly review rhythm.