Strategic planning isn’t just for Fortune 500 execs. It’s for real teams with real goals who are tired of reacting and ready to build something on purpose.
We get it. Planning takes time, and it doesn’t always feel urgent. But when done right, it gives your people clarity, your organization alignment, and your leadership breathing room.
At The Barzel Group, we’ve seen strategic planning transform the trajectory of businesses, nonprofits, and leadership teams. Let’s dig into why it matters now more than ever.
What Is Strategic Planning, Really?
Let’s cut the fluff. Strategic planning isn’t about putting fancy jargon into a slide deck. It’s about:
- Choosing direction over drift.
- Making intentional decisions.
- Creating alignment from the top down.
At The Barzel Group, we use the StratOp framework to help teams get clear, get aligned, and get moving. We help you ditch the binder full of goals and sharpen your priorities and your people.
Think of it like this: strategy is the sharpening stone. You and your team are the blade. And like the old proverb says, iron sharpens iron.
StratOp blends strategic vision with operational clarity. It helps teams:
- Identify what’s working, what’s not, and what’s missing
- Build unity around mission and direction
- Break big goals into actionable and accountable next steps
To use a baseball analogy (we can’t help ourselves): The strategy is your season-long plan to win the pennant. Tactics are the plays you call during the game. Operations? That’s the crew keeping the field playable.
When you confuse strategy with tactics, you end up micromanaging today instead of leading for tomorrow.
Why Is Strategic Planning Important?
We’ve worked with too many teams where every department had its own idea of success. Strategic planning helps everyone row in the same direction.
When the vision is clear and the roles are defined, you don’t have to babysit. People can own their outcomes.
Most leaders don’t fail from a lack of ideas. They fail from chasing too many. Planning gives you a filter for what doesn’t belong.
You don’t have to run around putting out fires if you’ve built a fire prevention system.
Companies that write down their business plan grow 30% faster than those that don’t. What does that mean for you? It means you get to stop playing catch-up and start setting the pace.
The Benefits of Doing It Right
Better decision-making
Clearer communication
Lower turnover and team frustration
Easier delegation and trust-building
Measurable growth targets
Peace of mind for leadership
Study Insight
48% of organizations fail to meet even half of their strategic targets. That number is better than in past years, but it’s still not great. But that’s a huge opportunity for you. The plan itself isn’t your end result; it’s your bridge to action.
What the Research Says
What Leaders Say
As the Executive Director of a global non-profit ministry, it's been extremely valuable to have Jay as a Leadership Coach. since July 2017. I've found Jay's straightforward approach beneficial, inspiring, and rewarding. He's helped me identify key performance gaps, create plans for improvement, and implement lasting change. Personally, I admire Jay for his generous, caring heart and dedication to relationships. He truly cares about the individuals he coaches and wants his clients to flourish in all aspects and areas of his/her lives.
Cindy Bultema
Jay has this unique gifting to sit with you, listen to your situation/issues and then, he hits you with it...this laser-focused, pin-pointed, exacting diagnosis as to the core issue(s) that you're dealing with. His ability to identify not the symptoms, but the cause of my issues, has been so helpful. I would highly recommend Jay to anyone looking for some self-awareness growth as well as outside eyes on business improvement.
Hunter Hall
Jay brings a wealth of wisdom and leadership principles. As a CEO, Jay gave me a set of tools that I can use in multiple situations to help with decision-making and leadership. I would definitely recommend him!
Jon Verlee
Jay has been an invaluable coach and resource for the continued success and growth of our business. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to take their business to the next level.
Ross Haan
Avalanche Creative
StratOp for small businesses makes a difference in helping startups grow to their full potential, as is the case for Avalanche Creative, an SEO agency.
1 Bold Step
The Barzel Group helped 1 Bold Step transition from a marketing agency to a full-service growth agency with our strategic planning process.
Impact Fab
The Barzel Group helped Impact Fab create a strategic plan that married the freedom to pivot with the discipline of written goals.
How We Help
We work with teams to clarify their vision, build real alignment, and create living plans that don’t collect dust. When you work with us, you’ll get:
- 1:1 strategic advising
- Team facilitation
- Long-term leadership development
Whether you’re a founder with a whiteboard or a C-suite with too many OKRs, we’ll help you slow down to speed up.
