The beginning of the year is the time most businesses implement new strategic plans designed to successfully lead them towards their year-end goals. With 2021 having similar challenges as 2020 due to the global pandemic, all businesses seem to be including decisions around their work environments as part of their 2022 strategy. In a podcast titled, “3 Steps to Create Your 2022 Business Strategy Despite Uncertainty,” co-hosts Mitch Simon and Dr. Ginny Bianco-Mathis interview Tara Rethore about how to create innovative strategies for 2022.

Rethore believes in a three-step strategy foundation which begins with knowing the destination (be clear on where you’re going), then focusing on value (gets employees engaged and customers excited) and third, building what’s working to greater success. In the interview with Simon and Mathis, Rethore provides examples of each step using the workplace environment theme.

For instance, in Step 1 of her strategic process (“know your destination”), it’s essential to understand what you want to achieve with your staff whether they work at home, in the office, or a hybrid solution. Rethore stresses that leaders need to expand their thinking beyond simply the location by considering how it fits within your business context.

With regards to Step 2 (“focus on value”), Rethore reminds business leaders to consider stakeholders as both employees and customers. Connecting the dots on how the value of an employee’s work positively impacts customers, along with showing the value of that work to the customers Is important.

Finally, Step 3 (“build on what’s working”) is about putting on your analytical hat to review what was done well and what could be improved, and then putting on your innovative hat to discover how you can do it differently to gain enhanced results. Rethore suggests using her tool, The Culture Advantage Aid, which is in her book, Charting the Course: Tools for CEOs to Align Strategy and Operations.

To read an overview of the interview, review all the great questions Rethore suggests as part of your strategic planning session, and listen to the interview in full, click here.

If this article was helpful and prompted you with an increased desire to improve your effectiveness as a leader so you can take your team to the next level, book a Coffee & a Consult with us here!  There is no charge for this conversation and it will provide you an opportunity to learn how we may be able to help you achieve your long-term business goals.

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Kris Cavanaugh Castro is the People Development Coach at Aepiphanni, the trusted advisor for business leaders who are seeking forward-thinking solutions to help them plan for and navigate through the challenges of business growth.  Kris has over 25 years of coaching, training and mentoring leaders to greater success; and she periodically writes about leadership development and facilitates change management conversations.

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