In any successful strategic planning process, the true moment of commitment—what we call the "all in" agreement—comes after days of focused work. It’s not something that happens right away; it’s the result of rigorous effort. Teams spend hours vetting goals, identifying weaknesses, challenging assumptions, and discussing every angle. You sleep on it, you return to it, you talk through concerns, and finally, you reach a point where every team member says, "Yes." That alignment is crucial.

We’ve heard from clients about past experiences where their strategic plans never really took off. Often, the reason is that the plan wasn’t fully finalized, or worse, there was never true agreement. Without a sense of ownership over the goals, execution falters, and the plan fizzles out before it even begins. It never had a fighting chance.

The real payoff of strategic planning lies in reaching that clarity and alignment. When the entire team is on board, the goals come to life—they’re no longer just words on paper. This is where the foundation for execution begins: clear, specific measures for each goal, unambiguous accountability, and a solid governance and action plan. These steps are what give the goals traction.

Every year, as we facilitate strategic planning offsites, we witness this transformation in our clients' teams. They leave these sessions energized, aligned, and with a clear roadmap for what’s next. Regular follow-up strategy days keep everyone focused, maintaining accountability and driving execution. For our long-term clients, the results speak for themselves. Each year, they return to the table with measurable progress and clear decisions about which goals to continue or adjust to maintain momentum.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself during this strategic planning season:

• Is your team truly aligned around your goals? 
• Are the goals clear enough that each team member knows exactly what success looks like?
• Are you getting the results you expect from your execution efforts? 

If you can’t say yes to these questions, it might be time to reassess how you’re approaching strategic planning. A plan without alignment and sustained focus rarely leads to success. But when you invest the time and effort, you create the conditions for lasting, tangible results. Strategic planning isn’t just a one-time event—it’s an ongoing commitment to keep your business on track and moving forward.

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Learn more about our strategic planning offering Strategic Ascent here >