What do you look for from an effective Business Strategist?

• An advisor who has actual Business Experience, learnt from a practical rather than theoretical perspective. Generally one who having run their own businesses provide an all round understanding
• Honesty and Confidentiality
• An ability to understand what is required first time and having the knowledge to deliver your requirements
• Someone you can work with and have confidence in
• An advisor who is focused on the task to hand that can deliver the practical solution but can assist in the formal delivery
• An advisor that has a long term interest in developing a relationship with a client, rather than a short term ‘fee-hunter’
• Look upon a Business Strategist as a Business Support partner – use their skills to your business’ benefit.

Do not confuse a Business Strategist with a ‘business coach’.  In our experience generally a “coach” deals from the position of an individual’s personal benefit and his or her position within a business.  In effect “coaching” is synonymous with and is the new ‘consultancy.’

A Business Strategist is therefore a professional who is tasked by you the client to achieve the aims set, usually to focus on current performance and give clear focus on the way forward for a business, within the parameters set.

All items of the Business Plan can be achieved by Business Strategy, from the report to the budgets and to the cash flows.

It is essential that constant monitoring of the Business Plan is maintained.  With the day-to-day pressures of business, forward planning and key decisions often do not receive the management time needed to ensure all implications are taken into account. Business Plan change and are modified as the business develops – the Business Plan is the document utilised for strategy and forward planning and should be constantly referred to and updated.

Clients must be committed to inputting time and energy into the build up of the Business Plan and be prepared to constantly refer and monitor performance. The performance indicators are built in for that purpose – you surely wouldn’t drive a car without keeping an eye on the fuel gauge!