Simplicity + Clarity = Confidence

Creating confidence in your intended audience is as easy as delivering a message that is simple and clear.  

Not everyone has the ability to do this and sometimes it is done quite intentionally.  After all, if you agree to a plan, which is ambiguous, and things go awry, the organizers can chalk it up to you not knowing how to implement what they envisioned. 

I sat through a webinar recently that was intended to illicit buy-in from leaders for a previously published, proposed strategic direction.  The problem I had with the webinar and indeed with the proposed strategic direction was twofold. 

First, it addressed the leaders of the organizations without actually including them.  I’ll explain.  As not for profit organizations are governed by a board of directors, the organizers should have included them but, had left them out.  They instead focussed on the employee of the board of directors – their Executive Director.  They (EDs) were to acknowledge their buy-in and take that back to the board of directors.  Not cool!  I think if I were to go to one of my clients and say, “I know you want me to take this route, but, this is the direction I’m going to take,” I don’t think I would have that client for very long. 

Second, there was plenty of promise of ‘meat and potatoes’, but, all that was delivered was the aroma! There was considerable time spent in drafting the original proposal and included inspiring words to a not for profit; collaborative, powerful, engaging, momentum.  It was all vision and no mission!  Wonderful inspiring language does not make a comprehensive strategic plan. 

When an organization decides to move forward and create a strategic plan, that plan includes concrete steps and outlines resources that would be used to get them there as well as expectations of all stakeholders.  A strategic plan without these elements is a dream, nothing more. 

That is not to say, they were not specific about what the issues were that were facing the individual organizations.  That information was there.  What was missing was the plan to move forward.  It’s difficult to agree to something (even if you do have the authority to do so) without this information. 

So, is the plan simple?  Is the plan clear?  Am I feeling confident about this plan?  To all of these I would have to say – not a bit!