Loichinger Advantage

Smart people plus measurable outcomes do not always equal progressive leadership.  Case in point?  Wall Street CEO’s who manipulated financial programs, made hundreds of millions for their company and  themselves. 

Progressive leadership on the other hand is what we need today, to accelerate the path to prosperity and build the enduring organizations that create jobs and a growing base of talented leaders.  While it’s hard not to steam about the double standards that are evident on Wall Street, our focus is more about what happens in the capital region.

We’ve completed our walk through strategic planning and are moving into the heart of organizational success - leadership.  We start this series by interviewing Kendall Dahmen, General Manager of the Fish Hatchery Zimbrick dealerships.  He has 9 direct reports, 35 managers and 310 associates.

DL:  Help our readers better understand your role with the Zimbrick organization.

KD:  I began working for the Zimbrick family in 1993 as part of the sales team.  Since then, I’ve been offered more responsible sales positions, until 2004, when I was offered the General Manager role.

DL:  So, sales are still in your blood?

I’ve shared the planning practices of the president/CEO of QWANtify, a leading IT consulting firm, followed by my shared experiences and planning perspectives.  Today’s column will bring the strategic planning series to a close by establishing a roadmap for those of you who want to advance the focus and insights gained through your strategic planning journey.

To leverage benefits from the strategic planning process, understand what pieces you’ve already implemented, where you are in your journey, and what will be critical to advance in the coming year.  If you have started in the middle without laying the proper foundation, you may need to back-up before moving ahead.

Welcome to the second column on our strategic planning strategic planning series.  You have the right team assembled, with the appropriate executives invited.  You are ready to launch the strategic planning process.  Not so fast.  So much has been written about the topic it becomes difficult to remember the myths from realities.  Let us help you clarify myth from reality, and shatter the myths that have been perpetuated for far too long.

We have gotten along fine without a strategic plan &can’t afford to take our eye off the ball.