How to Collaborate

To get from Point A to Point B requires a plan and the commitment of your team.

To achieve commitment, involve the leaders that will be held responsible for executing the plan in the strategic planning process.  Because people will support a plan they’ve helped develop.

Just remember the differences between collaboration, consensus and conclusive decision-making.

Planning equals change, and change is hard.  So watch that the bold ideas, tough conversation and difficult decisions required to improve performance are not diluted by an obsession to please everyone in your planning session.

In 1958, Sir Alec Issigonis commented in Vogue magazine that “a camel is a horse designed by committee.”

Paraphrasing a more contemporary piece of literature, you would do well to guard that your strategic planning team not turn a vibrant vision of your organization into 50 shades of beige.