It's that time of year again when strategic plans dictate the agenda. As you prepare for the coming year, you may wonder: will you enter next year with a clear ambition, concrete goals, and a targeted approach? Or will your annual plan, like many, end up as a vague and dusty document that is forgotten as soon as the daily hustle takes over?

OGSM: The key to successfully implementing your strategy in a dynamic world

OGSM – which stands for Objectives, Goals, Strategies, and Measures – is the method for managers and team leaders who want to translate their strategic ambitions into tangible results. The model connects the (long-term) ambition to the daily operations by providing targeted guidance and making everything measurable. It not only provides a clear plan but also a compass that gives your team direction in the stormy sea of everyday concerns. While traditional annual plans often get bogged down in vague intentions and fluffy language, with OGSM you create a SMART and to-the-point plan where every strategic choice must be articulated clearly and is directly linked to and contributes to your ultimate goal.

The building blocks of a successful annual plan in OGSM

An effective annual plan is more than just a collection of good intentions. It is a balance between ambition, logic, and emotion, and consists of several essential elements:

• An inspiring and clear Objective: Instead of directing towards tasks, you lead with a sharply formulated ambition. What exactly do you want to achieve? This not only needs to be ambitious but also to provide your team and/or the entire organization with a clear direction. A well-formulated ambition describes in a short sentence where you are headed, for whom you exist in the market, and what the specific direction is to follow through on that.

  • Example: The most sought-after caterer among educational institutions by continuously surprising with innovative, healthy, and delicious lunches in an out-of-the-box presentation

• Specific and measurable goals: This ambition is then translated into clear tangible objectives supporting your Objective with clear, measurable milestones. Consider increasing your revenue, improving customer satisfaction, or developing new products.

  • Example: Annual growth of 25 secondary schools

• Practical strategies: These are the building blocks of your plan and provide guidance on how you will achieve your goals.

  • Example: Broadly represented at leading schools by inspiring them with our surprising concept and sharing best practices. 

• KPI Dashboards: These are the measurements to determine whether your strategy is on track. 

  • Example: 10 introduction requests per month

• Concrete actions: These are the tactical actions (projects) you implement to follow through on each strategy.

  • Example: Known among school leadership by automating our outbound acquisition combined with smart software

    
    

How do you ensure your plan works?

The success of an OGSM plan depends not only on the content but more on the execution and the involvement of the team.

Ensure sufficient ownership: When creating a plan, it is important that all key owners are on board. Make sure they not only know about the plan but have also contributed to its development in order to truly secure ownership.

Ensure good follow-up: It is crucial to build a tight review cycle throughout the year. For example, discuss the progress of projects weekly within your team, evaluate results monthly, and conduct a thorough review every quarter to see if you are on track to achieve your strategic goals. This prevents chaos and ensures that everyone knows where and when what will be discussed.

Remain agile: We live in a time when circumstances can change rapidly. Thanks to regular evaluations, you can adjust your OGSM plan to the reality of the day without losing sight of the course. Opt for a pragmatic PDCA cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act & Adapt) and ensure that based on achieved results (KPIs in Goals and Measures) you regularly check if you are on the right track. Then adjust your approach if necessary but remain committed to your ambitions and objectives. This way, you continue to work purposefully while also being flexible and agile in adjusting your goals.

Increase your chances of success by steering with OGSM within your organization

Are you a manager ready to turn your annual plan into a powerful tool that truly makes a difference? OGSM provides the structure and flexibility you need. Do you already have experience with OGSM, or are you considering implementing it now? Share your experiences, questions, or tips in the comments below – together we learn how to steer our organizations towards success even better.

Ready to get started with OGSM? Download free templates in various formats at OGSM.com. And remember: writing a good plan is great. Effectively implementing the plan makes all the difference. Success!