Eumundi Voice - Issue 102, 19 September 2024

Plans are nothing ...

This is the final article in a series following on from Hot Buttered Toast and AC Cobra in Issues 100 and 101.

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything,” was coined by President Eisenhauer and Winston Churchill to deal with the rapidly changing dynamic in WWII.

In 2024 business faces the same rate of change but most plans are often in the top right-hand drawer of a desk, rarely if ever seeing the light of day or being subjected to rigorous review to deal with changed circumstances. You may be a capable entrepreneur, and the key elements of the plan are in your head, but there is a better way.

The following dynamic planning process has worked in building, banking and bioscience, not only delivering financial success but just as importantly allowing entire teams job fulfilment and satisfaction. The previous two articles outlined some specific examples.

The process evolved to become known as RADAR:

• R: Reactive and proactive – like radar it is always scanning for new challenges and opportunities. RADAR delivers a culture for success not a document.

• A: Alignment of all resources on agreed opportunities or their flipside the challenges. The ‘harvest’ workshops deliver this outcome.

• D: Devolution – giving responsibility and authority to the people asked to deliver actions and results across different sectors. This is identified as the key to achieving super competitiveness.

• A: Accepting and even welcoming change and the orientation for action it demands.

• R: Real time – there is nothing theoretical about the RADAR process: it is practical and powerful delivering results in real time. So why does this planning process work so well?

• RADAR engages the people in your business and its mission, so instead of working 9-to-5 they are engaged 24/7!

• RADAR empowers people. Whether you know it or not you have talented clever people on your team. The process signs them up for what they do best within your business and gives them the authority to get on with it!

• RADAR aligns people’s thinking – you included – so they are on the same page, the same paragraph the same sentence all the time. This means that all the resources available are also aligned on the same opportunities or challenges to be addressed. Only one agenda is in play.

Finally with reference to 4 outstanding, foundational books on business you could read: Daniel Coyle’s Culture Code and see why the something in common. RADAR shows you how to embed a culture code. You will also read my all-time favourite story of how kindergarten kids outperformed a bunch of CEOs and lawyers –and not just once!

Simon Sinek’s Start with Why, explains how the Wright brothers beat a much better funded wellconnected competitor into the skies. RADAR helps you to refresh and continue with it.

Seth Godin’s Purple Cow explains how to stand out from the crowd. It is a best-selling classic on marketing. RADAR helps you to build a herd.

Steven Johnson’s Where Good Ideas Come from, confirms that your people and your customers are the most important moving parts in your business. Johnson defines the ambience that fosters innovation, and RADAR shows you how to keep the good ideas coming.

It would be great to hear how some of you have put this process into practice. To share your stories, contact: botsmananthony@gmail.com.

Tony Botsman DDA, MBA

This is the final article in a series following on from Hot Buttered Toast and AC Cobra in Issues 100 and 101.