There’s a lot of strategic planning going on this time of year, but have you included your partner?
No, not your business partner or team or colleagues – I mean the one you live with.
I love building plans and strategy for business, but one of the best pieces of advice I received from a very successful (and happily married) mentor of mine was to ask my wife what she thought. (hmmm – brilliant concept).
So this was the scene of our planning session this year. She’s not big on boardrooms, so hey, figured this was as good a place as any. Plus, these talks are a lot more than your typical whiteboard sessions. We talk about what’s important, what’s not, and what we want things to look like next year and in the years to come. There’s no agenda, no paper and definitely no rush.
We talk about what’s important, what’s not, and what we want things to look like next year and in the years to come.
Here are some things we don’t do during this conversation:
– write down detailed business plans
– commit to any specific goals
– discuss money
– make big or emotional decisions
This is about getting aligned and really clear in big picture areas. It’s about eliminating distractions and making sure we’re both included in the direction we’re taking and the decisions we’re going to be making. It’s about agreement on near term sacrifices and long term goals.
She also is my best coach and sounding board – often helps simplify things I’m overthinking. For far too long I was putting too much pressure on myself (and our family) as I just kept trying to do more. These conversations help me step back to figure out the gaps in my strategy, flaws in my thinking, and frankly, take a deep breath.
So, this year do your team retreat and meet with your board or your business partners, but don’t forget your most important partner in your planning!
