Strategy as Ritual.

Strategy as Ritual: Transforming Business Planning

In the rush of day to day business, we often treat strategy as a tedious annual exercise - a box to be ticked, a document to be filed away. But what if we approached it differently? What if we treated strategy not as a chore, but as a ritual?

The power of ritual

Many cultures and traditions place a high importance on rituals. Families or cultural groups gather at special times, in special places. Easter, mid-winter, spring. The annual summer pilgrimage to the beach. It sets their rhythm, their heartbeat.

There, they reflect, plan, bond, reset.

It's not just a holiday. It centres them. It reminds them what’s important.

Businesses need this too. Not strategy as an annual bore, but as a living, breathing ritual.

Strategy as your company’s central text

When we make strategy our company's central text, we give it the respect and attention it deserves. We imbue it with customs, norms, and expectations. We create cycles - yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly - each an opportunity to check our course and adjust as needed.

In uncertain times, this ritual creates clarity. It fosters a shared language and a common purpose among team members. Your strategic intent becomes your guiding star, your plans the map that guides your journey.

The rhythm of strategy

The key to transforming strategy from a dreaded task to a powerful ritual lies in frequency and familiarity. By checking in often, we build a rhythm that becomes second nature to our teams.

Don't relegate strategy to one-off endeavours and forgotten offsites. Make it your team's pulse. Because when strategy becomes ritual, execution becomes second nature.

Implementing strategy as a ritual

Here are a few ways you can start treating strategy as a ritual in your organization:

1. Codify your strategic intent: Have a clear, straightforward, central text that defines your strategy, ideally in two pages or less.

2. Weekly Check-ins: Start each week with a brief team meeting to align on progress and priorities.

3. Monthly Deep Dives: Dedicate time each month to dive deeper into one aspect of your strategy.

4. Quarterly Reviews: Set aside time every quarter to measure, monitor, review progress and adjust.

5. Annual Strategy Retreats: Instead of dreading the annual strategy session, transform it into a retreat that your team looks forward to.

The benefits of strategic rituals

By treating strategy as a ritual, organisations can reap numerous benefits:

• Increased Alignment: Regular check-ins ensure everyone stays on the same page.

• Greater Agility: Frequent reviews allow for quicker adjustments to market changes.

• Improved Execution: When strategy is part of your rhythm, it naturally flows into day-to-day operations.

• Enhanced Engagement: Team members feel more connected to the company's direction and their role in it.

In a world of constant change, treating strategy as a ritual provides a steady rhythm, a north star to guide your business. It transforms strategy from a dusty document to a living, breathing part of your organisation's culture.

So, the challenge? How can you make strategy a ritual in your business? What customs, norms, and expectations can you create around your strategic planning?

When strategy becomes ritual, execution becomes natural.