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Planning for 2011

Guest post by: Sue Barrett

Article Overview: Budgeting and developing strategy for 2011 should be near the top of your ‘to-do’ list right now or be bedded down already. People complain about being too busy and never having enough time, however if you do not make time for regular planning you will let everyone down. Make time to work on: * Forecasting * Evaluating staff hiring and implementing staff development plans * Ensuring that your marketing calendar is planned through to June 2011 at a minimum

Planning for 2011

Budgeting and developing strategy for 2011 should be near the top of your ‘to-do’ list right now or be bedded down already. People complain about being too busy and never having enough time, however if you do not make time for regular planning you will let everyone down.

Make time to work on:

• Forecasting
• Evaluating staff hiring and implementing staff development plans
• Ensuring that your marketing calendar is planned through to June 2011 at a minimum

Right now we are working with several clients on their sales plans for 2011 as well as planning out their 2011 sales training schedule.

Here are several ideas for you to consider. The questions below should be handed to each of your management team and each person should prepare their answers. Ask them not to be soft in their responses, and to set aside some quiet time to apply the appropriate amount of thoughtful reflection and analysis in compiling their individual answers. Have everyone compare their responses with the rest of the team at your next management meeting. You may even like to reward authentic and well constructed ideas.

1. What went well in the past 12 months?
2. What did not work or go well?
3. What are the key drivers influencing our market, our customers and our competitors?
4. What are the key metrics that are giving us the right information?
5. What are the risks we are facing internally and externally?
6. What are the opportunities or ideas that could lead to better business growth, client retention and increased market share?
7. What are the factors we know we will be facing in 2011?
8. What are the assumptions we are making about the market in 2011?
9. What were the assumptions we made in 2010? Did they hold true and are they still true?

We use these questions and many more during our strategic sessions with clients and with ourselves to help everyone get on the same page and build a vision for each organisation.

A Best Practice hint: set a date! For example, by 17 December 2010 all budgets, compensation plans and marketing programs must be completed. This will keep everyone working towards that deadline.

Remember everybody lives by selling something.

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Article Tags: plan, planning, sales, sales plan, sales training



Related Forum Posts
Merry Christmas everyone! - I'm just waiting for my son to wake up to start our Christmas traditions and I wanted to drop a quick note here to thank everyone for your support of the forums. We've have an exciting year and hopefully we can reach and help even more entrepreneurs in 2011! I hope you enjoy your families and have a fantastic holiday break... and then get ready to kick some butt with your business in 2011! Merry Christmas everyone!
Re: How do you make the most of your day? - Planning, To Do lists, and deadlines all help me. Also being self critical of my own time management helps me raise the bar. I still check email too often though.
Re: Success - I think it was Gary Player who said the harder I practice the luckier I become when it came to his success as a world class golfer. Planning and dedication to a task can make all the difference between success and failure. MichelleJ
Re: Quote of the Day - "If you hesitate, some bolder hand will s - Excellent quote, Evan. This reminds me of the saying, "The early bird catches the worm." It's important to act on impulses, rather than hesitate and plan. Planning isn't a bad thing and is warranted in certain cases, but those who act quickly will get a step ahead of the competition.
Nice List - Nice list, and I agree with everything you all have added! Planning is the biggest one of all! Look at everything from every aspect possible, and then ask others to look at it as well. It's extremely important that you consider everything before jumping into things, and it goes so much smoother! Also, some young entrepreneurs tend to have an unrealistic mindset (I can sell 4000 of this product in my first week!). Make sure you know what you're getting into, and don't expect something that won't ever happen. ~Marie


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