Evolutions in delivering strategic planning services for advisors.

Michael Burke is an independent advisor who works with business leaders to develop and implement high performing strategies, through strategy development, implementation coaching and executive problem solving. In this episode Mike and James Mason, Managing Director of Mindshop take a deep dive into the evolution of delivering strategic planning support services as an advisor to align with the changing times. Packed with information, Mike talks about how to apply agile tactics to strategy development with clients, encouraging incubation of ideas and using the agile concepts of minimum viable product, pivot or persevere and contrarian thinking. Mike talks about how creativity in strategic planning is essential, but on the flipside that strategies should not take eons, creating volumes of plans only to collect dust on the shelf. Within a rapidly changing world, the need for a strategic plan to be a guide rather than set in concrete is discussed. As Dwight Eisenhower said, 'planning is everything, the plan is nothing'. Mike shares his key tips for helping clients implement plans successfully, looking at risk, using forward thinking tools like strategic SWOT and how to help clients prepare for 'black swan' events. He shares his ideas on how to get the best out of a client's strategic planning session, setting pre-work, how to navigate planning session pitfalls and the importance of avoiding the 'cookie cutter' approach. A 'must listen' podcast for any advisor offering strategic planning services to keep ahead of the pack.