Assume we are playing a game – let’s say cricket. You are the coach or captain of team and tomorrow is the gameday. I believe you and the team are sorted with your strategies on how to win. You are planned, aligned and moreover fully charged, to win! That’s the only thing in your mind. But, we both know success of your strategy will be determined at the end of game tomorrow.
And still, you plan? Of course – you plan your possible actions for different possible scenarios, but you really don’t know which scenario will unfold when.
Someone has truly said: “Strategy only works till you fire your first bullet”
Like in cricket you have 50 overs; a year gives you 52 overs. Yes, you can aim annual goals and think of macro strategies required to help you reach the goal – but it will definitely not be wise to really plan each over / each week / each “sprint”.
Many organization spends hours of time in creating huge project plans broken into quarters, months and weeks – they intend to precisely decide what will happen in each week and how shall we progress towards the success. These plans definitely looks awesome with amazing colors of possibilities – but the truth is it just doesn’t work. You don’t know:
Now, you might be thinking – this guy has gone insane! Shall we stop planning?
If that’s the case – I am not recommending you to stop planning, but trying to help you differentiate between macro and micro plan, let me explain little bit more:
It’s too difficult for your team to wait for months to decide whether they are becoming successful or not (and I am sure the same also applies to you).
Sprint is not just breaking tasks into parts but breaking success into parts.
Enjoy sprinting!
Author:
Parth Hirani, is leading a strategic advisory practice at J.Hirani & has helped various organizations align strategies across continents. A social & collaborative sapien by nature. He enjoys being a full time “dreamer” & loves challenging “possibilities”.
Success mantra- “We believe it’s possible; while maintaining flexibility on “How” we are “Rigid” on our “Goals”
About J.hirani: J.hirani is a Strategic Transformation team which works as a growth partner for different organisations in various industries by providing services like Agile transformation, Scenario mapping, Strategic alignment, Balance scorecard, Digital transformation, Incubating new ventures, Operation excellence and Aligning human capital.
©J.hirani, Sprints of “Success”, June 2021. All rights reserved
