Does Your Strategic Planning Process Suffer From ADD?

Posted by on April 5, 2010

In the psychological world, ADD (attention deficit disorder) is diagnosed when an individual meets certain criteria for hyperactivity, impulsivity, or inattention.  Likewise, in the corporate world, organizations can exhibit ADD-like behavior when they mistake activity for effectiveness; when they lose focus on established objectives; and when they respond haphazardly to environmental changes.  

Many well-meaning managers and leaders assume that because members of the organization are “active” that they are also “effective.”  In reality, activity does not equal effectiveness; and it’s not representative of indispensability. Rather, effectiveness is the result of “doing the right things, right”. And the right things are those activities and actions that make organizational goals a reality.

So how can you evaluate, plan, prioritize, and make actionable the activities that will add true value to the organization? And how do you avoid falling victim to corporate ADD?

Bring Energy and Focus Back to Corporate Planning

A 2003 MIT Sloan study identified four corporate energy zones that can either stimulate or handicap competitiveness. This in-depth study proved that organizational energy and focus is a critical component to success.

Some key points that arose from the MIT study are worth considering:

• After more than 50 years of largely ignoring soft factors, like emotions and feelings, organizations are recognizing the powerful role that emotions play in shaping corporate behavior. 
• Corporate leaders are responsible for unleashing organizational energy and guiding it toward key strategic goals.
• Organizational energy is the combination of the company’s emotional, cognitive, and physical states.  While difficult to measure, organizational energy is evident in the intensity, endurance, and innovation processes of a company’s work. 
• Individual energy, especially of leaders, influences organizational energy. Likewise, the energy state of the organization affects the energy of individuals. 
• It is the intersection of intensity and quality that determines an organization's energy state, which usually falls into one of four categories – “The Four Energy Zones.”

“The Four Energy Zones”

Most organizations can be characterized as being in one particular zone at any given time. The four energy zones are as follows:

• Aggression zone (responding to threat)
• Passion zone (responding to an exciting goal)
• Comfort zone (coasting dangerously on past success)
• Resignation zone (has nearly given up)

At Method Frameworks our approach to corporate strategic planning brings focus and energy (excitement) back into a traditionally uninspiring planning process.  Our process prevents organizational ADD by keeping energy and enthusiasm at the forefront while focusing the organization’s efforts toward clearly-defined value-based objectives.

^{Reference: Bruch, Heike, Ghosal, Sumantra, “Unleashing Organizational Energy” MIT Sloan Management Review, Sept. 22, 2003}

---

 

For permission to use or reprint any portions of this copyrighted article, contact Method Frameworks at articles@methodframeworks.com.

About the Author:

Joe Evans is the President and CEO of Method Frameworks.  Joe is a published author, frequent speaker and recognized expert in corporate strategic planning. To contact Method Frameworks about scheduling Mr. Evans about an upcoming speaking engagement, visit www.methodframeworks.com/business-speaker or email requests to media_relations@methodframeworks.com.

---

    

Do not miss these two important downloads for executives and business strategy professionals.

 

---

 

  Join the Strategic Planning Xchange group. 

Learn More

Method Frameworks is a leading business strategy and management consulting company, based in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and serving clients nationally and internationally.

Discover our capabilities and learn why Method Frameworks is the strategic planning partner chosen by Fortune-500 companies and small businesses alike. Let us show you how to realize 140%+ ROI on your strategic planning efforts through our unique Plan4^SM process that brings together strategy and execution into a powerful plan.   Plan4 is our proprietary business planning process that involves an integrated set of actions designed to help companies gain sustainable advantage. Download our brochure to learn more about Method Frameworks and our services or download our Plan4 Planning Process Overview.

You can contact Method Frameworks at 877-317-5264 (877-31PLAN4) or follow this link to request a meeting with a planning consultant. Check our articles and blog often at www.methodframeworks.com to get many more planning tips and information about our Plan4 process.

• Back to Main Blog
• Email Blog