One of the most obvious ways to see a strategic planning process slipping into nothing more than incremental operational improvements is when the participants start discussing the goals. There’s a noticeable difference between strategic and operational goals.

Operational goals are the targets for what you need to achieve today, while strategic goals put a pin in the destination you need to arrive at in the future. Having both operational and strategic goals are important for the health of your organization.

Here's how you can learn the difference between the two and get started on strategic planning. Do you or your organization have any strategic goals or just operational ones? Don't forget to let me know in the comments if you're dealing with a situation like this.

Watch this next:
Don't Start Strategic Planning Without Knowing This:    • Don't Start Strategic Planning Withou...  

Don’t confuse strategic and operational planning: https://www.lianedavey.com/dont-confu...
Your strategy should serve two purposes: https://www.lianedavey.com/your-strat...

My book on using productive conflict to get your team and organization back on track:
https://www.lianedavey.com/goodfight/

About me:
I've never climbed Mount Everest (and never will). So far, I've never been in space. I don't even have an Olympic gold medal (although I did win the Grade 9 Phys Ed award). But the prize for solving the most difficult team challenges is named after me (no, not really, but someday it probably will be).

For the past 25 years, I've researched and advised teams on how to achieve high performance. Known as the “teamwork doctor,” I've worked with teams from the frontlines to the boardroom, across a variety of industries, and around the globe from Boston to Bangkok. In working with hundreds of teams, including 26 Global Fortune 500 companies (and counting), I've developed a unique perspective on the challenges that teams face – and how to solve them.
https://www.lianedavey.com/about/

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