Why Most CEOs Avoid Planning

Let’s get real. Most CEOs don’t like to plan.

Planning isn’t fun.

Planning isn’t a line item on the financial statements.

Planning isn’t something your customers can see.

Yet, every CEO feels the impact of a lack of planning.

Here’s something interesting: In every psychometric test I’ve seen, the personality profile of a CEO and a Planner are completely different. CEOs are visionaries, decision-makers, and action-takers—not necessarily the ones who love processes, timelines, and details.

Does that mean strategic planning is impossible for a CEO? NO!

 It just means they need the right person beside them to get it done.

And because planning isn’t a natural strength, the pull to jump straight to execution is strong.

But here’s the flip side—there is a high cost to skipping the plan

The Cost of No Plan

A business without a plan is like a ship without a compass—drifting without direction. 

Strategic planning provides:

• Clarity on business goals and priorities - you know the reason behind the activity you are embarking on.
• A roadmap to guide decision-making - If you have a team, most naturally, you will have ideas coming to you. With the roadmap, you can easily check to see if it aligns with where you are going and not just another bright idea.
• Alignment across teams for seamless execution - this is one of my favourite. Alignment reduces confusion. If your team knows where you are going, all the activities are driving the same results.

Without strategic planning, CEOs often experience:

• Wasted resources on misaligned efforts
• Lack of clear direction leading to inconsistent growth
• Struggles in adapting to market changes

A well-structured plan is the key to sustainable success.

Key Benefits of Implementing a Strategic Plan

This is where you turn Vision into Action

The other challenge that CEOs can find themselves in, is documenting a strategy and never going back to it. 

Once the planning is complete, the next step is to turn your vision into actionable steps.

An effective strategic plan bridges the gap between vision and execution. CEOs who plan well can:

• Set realistic, measurable goals
• Improve operational efficiency by eliminating guesswork
• Ensure every team member knows their role in achieving company objectives

Once you have completed the planning process, which is your ideas and aspirations, the next step is to align on activities/goals….the doing. 

You should be able to answer the question of what you will be doing to achieve this goal. Otherwise, the team can easily slip back into doing what feels normal, easy or even their ideas which might not be aligned to where the company is going.

Enhancing Strategic Planning Skills

While most CEOs aren’t naturally wired for planning—and that’s okay.

Why? Because CEOs are visionaries. They see the end before the beginning and often move straight to execution instead of pausing to map out the process. That’s their superpower! They are the idea creators, the disruptors, the big-picture thinkers.

But here’s the thing—even though they value planning, making time for it is the real challenge.

So, how do you ensure planning actually gets done without slowing down your momentum?

• Block time for planning – Prioritize annual and quarterly strategy sessions. If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen.
• Use data-driven insights – Let market trends, customer behavior, and key performance metrics guide your decisions. Numbers never lie.
• Align teams with clear objectives – Every department should understand how their work connects to the bigger vision. When the team is aligned, execution becomes seamless.

Remember, a strategic plan only works if it's implemented properly. 

Here’s how:

• Break goals into quarterly, monthly, and weekly action steps
• Assign accountability—who is responsible for what?
• Track progress and adjust as needed.

Planning is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing process of execution, evaluation, and refinement.

Are you prioritizing strategic planning in your business? 

Drop a comment or reply—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Blessings,

Michelle

P.S. If you need help with planning the goals for your business, CLICK HERE to book a call and let's talk