Have you heard us talk about the Strategic Mapping Model™, but are unsure of what it entails, and how it can be a valuable asset in your Director of Operations (DOO) business?
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Today we are talking about the Strategic Mapping Model™, which is the licensed material that we teach in the very first module of the DOO certification program. We have had students join us just to learn this information because it is such an incredible tool.
The Strategic Mapping Model™
I want to give you a glimpse into why the Strategic Mapping Model™ is such a valuable tool and how our DOOs have used this to create additional business for themselves once they have completed this process.
What is the Strategic Mapping Model™?
The Strategic Mapping Model™ is a proprietary system that allows DOOs to guide the leaders they support through a strategic operational exercise. It integrates the leaders’ big vision into prioritized projects in focus areas that lead to actionable day to day intentional activities in the business.
“Most businesses are flailing (not failing); vacillating between success and failure… because they lack operational structure.”
This is common for leaders because they are the visionaries who have a zest for creation. But oftentimes they lack the organizational or project management skills to bring these big ideas to life.
“What goes to waste with visionaries is that they have these big ideas but they have no way of communicating them or breaking them down into an actionable plan.”
That is why a visionary sits so well alongside an operator.
Maybe a visionary is able to create a plan at the beginning phase of a business, but once the business starts to scale it becomes less of a focus. This is because leaders have so many cylinders running at the same time, and they will go back to what brings them happiness and fulfillment which is coming up with all of the ideas.
Having a strategic plan is critical to scaling businesses, and if you have access to a tool like the strategic mapping model, you have an incredible service to sell.
Strategic Mapping Model™ Process
We start with the big picture and look at every facet of the business. We guide and support the leader through intense work of gathering the facts, details, wishes, and experiences so that we can collaborate on building an annual plan, as well as a prioritized quarterly plan.
We are unable to be effective in our jobs without really understanding the scope of their business so the strategic mapping model helps us get a glimpse into this.
At the end of these multi-phased sessions the leader and the team are both clear on what their next steps are and we also know what projects need action to achieve success.
“This pathway sets an expectation and opens up very critical communication between the leaders and the teammates.”
The vision becomes tangible and the DOO becomes a strategic partner throughout this process. It helps them bring the big visions to reality.
As a DOO, this is the first work that we do with the prospect. The Strategic Mapping Model™ is a paid product because it has moved thousands of businesses forward, plus there is a succinct framework that we license to DOOs. It brings clarity, direction, and a plan.
While we work with the clients, we are finding so much out about the business, the leader, their team, their goals and vision, their personality, and how they deal with conflict, feedback, and ideas. At the conclusion of this exercise, we have so much knowledge and it equips us to determine what our next steps are.
At the same time, the leader is learning about us, and seeing the value that a strategic partner can bring. They are getting a helpful tool and a very impressive plan. It allows us to build a case for what comes next.
Moving Forward
Now that we have deep knowledge about the business, we are able to determine how or if we want to move forward with the client.
Here are how some of our DOOs are using strategic mapping as a qualifier for additional business:
- Offer retainer services
- Offering project management services
- Strategic Mapping Model™ service as a stand-alone service
- Can also sell a quarterly service
If you are intrigued by the Strategic Mapping Model™ and would like to use it, I encourage you to learn more about the Director of Operations Certification program.
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This was a great episode. It really helped me see the SMM through a different lens. Thank you!
Thank you for being super generous in this episode, Natalie! I used to do strategy sessions, but you gave me the huge idea to have it more like a package with quarterly sessions/reviews. Can’t wait to join the your certification program!