"Strategic planning isn't just about keeping the lights on, but truly driving growth."

In this episode of Inside the Process, Mallory Glessner interviews Hayfa Aboukair, who shares her unique journey from public service to the startup world. They discuss the importance of strategic planning, the distinction between metrics that keep the lights on and those that drive strategic shifts, and how to balance ambitious goals with realistic expectations. Hayfa emphasizes the need for team engagement in goal setting, the role of reflection in continuous improvement, and practical frameworks for feedback. The conversation concludes with advice on effective annual planning strategies and common pitfalls to avoid.

Key Takeaways:

• Develop a strategic planning framework to promote growth and align team efforts.
• Involve teams in the planning process to enhance ownership and provide clarity.
• Regularly implement reflection and retrospectives to promote continuous improvement.
• Prioritize a few key objectives to prevent overwhelming team members.
• Foster a culture of feedback to boost team performance and collaboration.
• Ensure leaders communicate how individual contributions align with larger organizational goals.

Chapter Markers:

[00:00] Introduction to Inside the Process

[01:45] Hayfa's Journey: From Public Service to Startups

[03:35] The Importance of Strategic Planning

[06:51] Metrics that Matter: Keep the Lights On vs. Strategic Shifts

[09:08] Balancing Ambitious Goals with Realistic Expectations

[12:16] Engaging Teams in Goal Setting

[15:49] The Role of Reflection in Continuous Improvement

[18:57] Practical Frameworks for Team Feedback

[20:43] Effective Annual Planning Strategies

[24:21] Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Strategic Planning

Resources:

Want more resources from this episode? We’ve got an episode recap, replay and every template, process, and resource we covered right here: https://trainual.com/insidetheprocess 

Trainual

Inside The Process provides solutions for every aspect of the business — from process headaches and system improvement to self-management and leveling up as a leader.

Mallory Glessner sits down with leaders from some of the most innovative and fast-moving businesses to explore how they think and operate, sharing insights that will help you elevate your work and teams.

This is one of a few podcasts from Trainual, a software platform that helps businesses build playbooks to train and grow their team. You can check out the rest of our shows here: https://trainual.com/insidetheprocess 

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