Considerations in Strategic Planning
Year-end seems to be a typical time when many organizations conduct their strategic planning process. An annual strategic plan sets organizational objectives and priorities for the coming year at a minimum. These plans will ideally address ‘Where are we now? Where are we going? and How are we going to get there?” I have seen executives get so excited about the planning process that they fail to implement an action strategy that is followed up with assignment of individual accountability.
According to Erica Olsen, the Virtual Strategist, there are 10 Common Pitfalls of strategic planning. These plans often lack:
- Ownership;
- Empowerment;
- Accountability;
- Communication; and
- Are Removed from daily operations;
- Are not aligned to the regular decision making process;
- Are overwhelming;
- Lack buy-in;
- Are only conducted annually and
- Are viewed as an event!
Erica has a great set of short videos that my friend Steve Gladis, Ph.D of Steve Gladis Leadership brought to my attention. You may find them helpful in designing your own strategic planning sessions.
Survival Leadership
I am excited to share that Dr. Steve Gladis is coming to our office today to meet with our leadership team to help enhance our effectiveness. Steve is a leading Executive Coach, Motivational Speaker and Leadership Trainer, GMU professor and Author of 16 Books on Leadership and Communication! Steve also has a popular leadership blog that was ranked #5 out of the Top 100 Leadership blogs. I was introduced to Steve through a speaking engagement I attended offered by Women in Technology and now we both serve on the Board of Directors for the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce as well. We are really looking forward to an inspiring, engaging, and energizing session!
Happy Thanksgiving
On this day, the day before the Thanksgiving holiday as I reflect– I realize how much I personally have to be grateful for. It’s been an incredible year, both personally and professionally. I am reminded by a quote I have read from G.B. Stern, “Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” I share my thoughts of gratitude for each of you, with each of you. Helios would not be able to make the impact that it does, without your support. Thank you for your commitment to Helios and to our community. My wish for you is that you too share your gratitude with those special to you.
Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and moments of expressed gratitude.
Fondly,
Kathy
Congratulations, CARE Award Winners!
The 19th Annual CARE Awards Breakfast took place on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church, VA. The CARE Award, which recognizes companies that integrate family-friendly work policies, is a hallmark of the finest employer community in a competitive job market. The CARE program has helped change the business climate in Northern Virginia by exposing business leaders to new ideas and has given them specific, workable steps to follow for making important workplace changes. Because of the CARE program, many business leaders have begun to think seriously about ways family-friendly policies can impact the day-to-day operation of their businesses and how they can be implemented in companies of any size and configuration.
Companies covet the CARE Award because it gives them the opportunity to showcase to their colleagues the good things they have done to support their workers. Additionally, many business leaders believe that the recognition gives them an edge in hiring skilled and motivated workers. Many companies have discovered that the self-assessment, combined with the outside evaluation by the CARE team of experts, gives them valuable information about the strengths and weaknesses of their policies.
Helios HR congratulates the following CARE Awards winners for their family-friendly workplace policies and innovative employee-focused solutions:
- AMERICAN SYSTEMS
- Buccaneer, A Vangent Company
- Compusearch Software Systems, Inc.
- Consumer Electronics Association
- CustomInk.com
- Dimension Data
- Federal Management Partners, Inc.
- High Performance Technologies, Inc.
- InCadence Strategic Solutions
- InTec, LLC
- Kearney & Company
- National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
- National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
- Navy Federal Credit Union
- SRA International, Inc.
- L-3 STRATIS
- Technomics, Inc.
For more information about the CARE Awards program, please visit their site here.
Surviving an OFCCP Audit - Q&A
Thank you for attending today’s WTPF Program on Surviving an OFCCP Audit. We hope that during this interactive session, we covered all of your concerns about how to respond to an audit letter, prepare for an audit, what to expect when the OFCCP comes on site, and more. If you have additional questions regarding an OFCCP audit, please leave your questions below and Bridget Pulivarti, SPHR, will be happy to answer them!