There are many business adages on the subject of planning. A couple of these maxims:
“Action without a plan is a plan for disaster”.
“A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan.”
Whether an epigram or aphorism or just a saying of plain common sense, why is the lack of planning (the process whose product is a plan) so pervasive?
Why is it that plans are ubiquitous but planning is not? Where does the disconnect between “planning” and the “plan” occur? Is it because a deadline (artificial or not)? Is the “the plan” relegated to a task for compliance (a board meeting, a run to the bank, etc.)?
Planning is as organic to an organization as leading and managing are. While there are mountains written on how to be a better leader, and managing in tough times, without the context of planning and a plan, leading and managing are pretty hollow.
Planning is “working on the business”. Leading and managing are primarily “working in the business”. Is it confronting and dealing with the risk and uncertainties of the future that keep people and organizations at arms length from planning processes? Or is it simply because one has “to be for” something which carries the weight of personal risk and the consequences of being wrong?
Now is always the best time to look at your planning process.
