Strategic Planning Kit For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Where to Go from Here

This book is as much about strategy development and execution as it is about the plan itself. If you want to spend time on strategy development, go to Parts II, III, and IV. On the other hand, if you just want to put your plan together, go to Parts I and V.

Another approach to tackling this book is to consider your own thinking and education style. What gets you excited? How do you like to think? Here's a detailed approach for navigating through this book, based on your skills and personality:

• Big-picture thinkers: You may love Chapters 5, 6, 11, and 17 because they're future-oriented and focus on what's possible.
• Analytical minds: Chapters 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 17 are for those of you who always look at the what ifs. These chapters look at how to use data from your internal and external environments to develop a list of possible strategies.
• Detail-oriented folks: If you're thinking, “How are we going to do this?” then head to Chapters 12, 13, and 14 to put the pieces together.
• Social butterflies, team builders, and crowd pleasers: Check out Chapters 2, 3, 19, and 20 for ideas to build consensus and get everyone's input.

However you approach your plan, I recommend you start a strategy notebook to capture your thoughts as you move through your planning process. I guarantee you'll stumble across a section of text or an idea that you don't want to lose, so if you jot it down in your notebook, you won't have to go back and find it. In several places, I refer to ...