It's All About Planning, Not the Plan

General Dwight David Eisenhower is famously known for having said that in preparation for battle, plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. These words from the man who planned the largest operation ever undertaken in human history, the D-Day landing at Normandy.

What we learn during a thorough learning process, Eisenhower knew, is far more valuable for future decision-making than the plan itself, no matter how well it has been put together. the plan is articulated. Like all military leaders, he knew the sobering truth of the adage that a battle plan becomes obsolete within five minutes of contact with the enemy. In battle, few things go exactly as planned.

When that happens, leaders must innovate by drawing on lessons learned during the planning process. Long after the plan itself may have become irrelevant, these lessons learned will serve as powerful guides for making judicious decisions..

The same principles hold in all organization. Wise managers enlarge the number of people who learn from the planning process by enlisting broad participation in the planning process -- especially plans which are long-term in nature. The result is an organization that is more resilient when the unexpected occurs, because they can fall back on lessons learned in the planning process even when the plan proves incomplete or outmoded.

A transcript of this podcast is available for download at https://www.leaderperfect.com/podcast.

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