Strategic Planning Made Simple

A CEO once told me, “Our people are working hard, but we’re not moving forward. We’re like a boat with many rowers, yet we’re stuck in the same place.”

I understood right away. Each department was busy, but they had no shared direction. Everyone pulled hard, but not in the same way. The problem wasn’t effort—it was clarity.

I’m Jef Menguin. For more than 20 years, I have helped Filipino leaders, schools, LGUs, and companies create strategies that actually work. Through Strategic Learning Consultants, my team and I guide organizations to turn vision into action—without jargon, without confusion.

We don’t run generic public seminars. We partner with organizations to design and facilitate strategic planning workshops tailored to their goals.

Strategic planning doesn’t have to be complicated. The simpler the plan, the faster people move. When leaders give their teams a clear direction, work feels lighter and results multiply.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to make strategic planning simple—using stories, a practical framework, and tools you can use right away.

What is strategic planning?

Strategic planning is the process of deciding how your team will win in the future—by setting a clear direction, focusing on priorities, and preparing to adjust when things change.

That’s the simple definition. But let’s break it down.

A strategy is how you position yourself to win. A plan is the set of actions you will take. Put them together, and a strategic plan becomes your playbook. It tells your people:

• where you’re going,
• how you’ll get there, and
• how you’ll keep winning even when challenges come.

Example 1: The Coffee Shop A small café wants to grow. Without strategy, they might just try random promos—discounts today, a new drink tomorrow. With strategic planning, they decide: “We’ll win by becoming the go-to place for students to study.” Their plan then focuses on Wi-Fi, quiet corners, and affordable bundles. That’s playing to win.

Example 2: The Barangay Project A barangay wants to improve health services. Without strategy, each official pushes their own project. With a strategic plan, they agree: “We’ll win by focusing on preventive care.” That decision shapes where the budget goes—check-ups, vaccines, and health education.

👉 Without strategic planning, people work hard but in different directions. With it, they pull together, move faster, and position the team to win.

From Idea to Action: The Need for a Simple Framework

Now here’s the challenge. Many leaders already know strategy means playing to win. They understand they need a plan. But when it’s time to do the planning, things get messy.

Some use thick binders full of jargon. Others copy long templates they found online. In the end, the plan looks impressive on paper—but nobody remembers it, and nobody uses it.

I’ve seen this again and again. That’s why I created a framework that leaders, teachers, managers, and even barangay officials can remember and apply. It keeps the process simple, clear, and practical.

I call it the 5M Framework for Strategic Planning. Follow thse five steps so you can map the future, measure the present, set priorities, take action, and keep winning.

The 5M Framework: Making Strategy Simple

When I first began helping organizations with their strategies, I noticed a common problem: leaders were drowning in complicated models. They had binders full of diagrams, consultants’ reports, and long planning retreats—yet, after all the work, nothing moved.

I realized something: a strategic plan only works if people can remember it, talk about it, and use it every day. That’s why I created the 5M Framework. It’s simple enough for a barangay council, a startup team, or a school faculty—but strong enough for corporate leaders.

The 5M Framework turns a complicated process into five clear moves: Map, Measure, Mobilize, Make It Work, Monitor & Multiply.

1. Map the Future

Think of strategy like a journey. Before you move, you need a destination.

• What is our vision—the future we’re working toward?
• What is our mission—the reason we exist today?
• What values will guide how we get there?

💡 I once worked with a local government unit where every department had its own idea of success. One group thought their goal was infrastructure. Another thought it was social services. Another thought it was revenue. After two days of dialogue, they drew one shared map: “Build a city where families thrive.” Suddenly, their projects lined up like roads pointing to one destination.

👉 Without a map, every road feels right, but leads nowhere.

2. Measure the Now

A map is useless if you don’t know where you’re starting. Measuring the now means being honest about your current state.

• What strengths can we build on?
• What weaknesses hold us back?
• What opportunities are in front of us?
• What threats must we prepare for?

💡 In a company I worked with, leaders believed they lacked resources. But when we measured carefully, we discovered untapped talent—employees with hidden skills never used in formal roles. The plan shifted from “hire more” to “maximize what we already have.”

👉 Leaders who measure honestly, plan wisely.

3. Mobilize Priorities

This is where many plans fail—they try to do everything. Mobilizing is about focus.

• Choose the 3–5 most important goals.
• Rank them by impact and urgency.
• Align people and resources behind them.

💡 A university once had 27 goals in its plan. Nobody remembered them. We helped them cut to four. Faculty smiled and said, “Finally, we know what matters.” Within a year, results doubled—simply because everyone was moving in the same direction.

👉 Mobilization turns ideas into movement.

4. Make It Work

Plans die in notebooks. They live when leaders turn them into actions.

• Break big goals into smaller projects.
• Assign owners and timelines.
• Equip people with tools and resources.

💡 In one retail company, the CEO kept asking, “Who owns this goal?” Silence. When ownership was assigned clearly, things changed. People no longer waited—they acted, because it was their responsibility.

👉 A plan without action is just paper. Action makes the plan breathe.

5. Monitor & Multiply

The final step is often forgotten. Monitoring is not about punishing people—it’s about course correction. Multiplying means repeating what works.

• Track key metrics regularly.
• Celebrate small wins to build momentum.
• Multiply proven practices across teams.

💡 An NGO started reviewing progress every Friday for 15 minutes. The rhythm created accountability, but also pride. They didn’t just see numbers—they saw stories of lives changed.

👉 Monitoring is not control. It’s leadership that learns and adjusts.

Summary Table: The 5M Framework

Why Strategic Planning Often Fails

If strategic planning is so important, why do so many plans end up forgotten?

I’ve seen this happen in schools, LGUs, and even large companies. People spend days in a planning retreat, they go home with thick binders and slides, but after a few weeks nothing changes. The plan gathers dust.

Here are the most common reasons:

1. Too complicated. Leaders overload the plan with jargon and technical terms. The result? People don’t understand it. If they can’t explain it in their own words, they won’t use it.
2. Too many priorities. Some organizations set 20 or more goals. Teams get overwhelmed, confused, and scattered. A plan with too many goals becomes a wish list, not a strategy.
3. No follow-through. A plan is created, but nobody checks progress. Without monitoring, it becomes just another document on the shelf.

💡 I once joined a planning retreat where every department presented its “strategic plan.” Each one was just a little better than last year’s report. The CEO sighed and said, “This is not strategy. This is paperwork.” What was missing? A clear framework, focus, and follow-through.

👉 The truth is, strategy fails not because people don’t care, but because the process is broken.

That’s why I created the 5M Framework. It cuts through complexity, helps you focus on what matters, and builds a habit of action and review. It’s not about making plans—it’s about making plans work.!

How to Use the 5M Framework in Your Organization

You don’t need a big retreat or a thick manual to start strategic planning. You can use the 5M Framework in a simple meeting with your team. Here’s how:

1. Gather your team.
   Bring the people who need to row with you. This could be your department heads, project leads, or core group.
2. Walk through the 5Ms.
   Take one “M” at a time. Ask the key question. Write the answers where everyone can see them.
3. Keep it simple.
   Limit your goals to 3–5. Use plain language, not jargon. If people can’t repeat it, it’s too complicated.
4. Put it on one page.
   Summarize your answers in a single sheet. Share it with the team so everyone remembers.
5. Review regularly.
   Set a quick check-in (monthly or quarterly). Ask: “Are we on track? What needs to change?”

💡 Tip: You don’t need perfection. A simple, clear plan that people use beats a perfect plan nobody remembers.

The One-Page 5M Plan Template

Here’s a simple format you can copy and use with your team:

👉 Use this one-page tool to guide your next planning session. You’ll be surprised how quickly your team gains focus once everything is simple and visible.

Benefits of Strategic Planning

When your team has a clear strategic plan, three things happen right away:

• Clarity. Everyone knows the direction. No more guessing, no more pulling in different directions.
• Focus. People stop chasing every opportunity. They put their energy into what matters most.
• Alignment. Departments stop competing. They start rowing together.

And over time, the benefits multiply:

• Better decisions. Leaders can say “yes” or “no” faster, based on strategy.
• Accountability. Everyone owns part of the plan. Progress is easier to track.
• Momentum. Small wins add up, and the team feels they’re playing—and winning—the same game.

💡 Think of it this way: Without a strategic plan, your team is busy but scattered. With a plan, your team becomes a force—focused, united, and ready to win.

Want This in Action?

Reading about strategy is one thing. Experiencing it with your team is another. That’s why I offer three kinds of Strategic Planning Workshops through Strategic Learning Consultants. Each is designed to fit different needs—but all deliver the same result: clarity, focus, and bold choices your leaders can act on.

1. Playing to Win Workshop – Best for executives who feel spread too thin. In two days (away from the office), leaders make real strategic choices—not just “10% more of the same.”
2. SOAR Workshop – Perfect for NGOs, LGUs, schools, and churches. This session shifts energy from problems to possibilities, helping people see strengths, define aspirations, and align on measurable results.
3. Strategic Planning Sprint – A fast, focused option for teams that need clarity now. In one day, you get alignment and a simple, practical action plan.

These workshops are not public events. We design and facilitate them exclusively for organizations in the Philippines—companies, schools, LGUs, NGOs, and associations. Each session is tailored to your context, challenges, and goals.

👉 Learn more about these workshops here: Strategic Planning Workshops.

Frequently Asked Questions about Strategic Planning

1. Who should be involved in strategic planning?
Bring in the people who make key decisions and those who will carry them out. This usually includes senior leaders, department heads, and sometimes frontline staff who understand day-to-day realities. When the right people are in the room, plans are grounded and easier to execute.

2. How long does a strategic planning workshop take?
It depends on your needs. Some teams get clarity in a one-day sprint. Others, especially large organizations, benefit from a two-day retreat. The important thing is not the length, but that you leave with a clear, usable plan.

3. How often should we review our strategic plan?
At least once a quarter. Strategy is not “set and forget.” Regular reviews allow you to adjust when conditions change, celebrate wins, and keep momentum.

4. What makes a strategic plan fail?
The most common reasons: too many goals, unclear priorities, or no follow-through. That’s why we use the 5M Framework—to keep things simple, focused, and alive.

5. Can small organizations or LGUs do strategic planning?
Absolutely. In fact, smaller organizations often see results faster because they can act quickly. A barangay, a school, or a startup can use the same process as a large corporation.

6. What do we need to prepare before a strategic planning workshop?
Collect basic information: past performance data, current challenges, and future opportunities. Most of all, bring an open mind and a willingness to make choices. Strategy is about deciding how to win, not just making a wish list.

From Many Rowers to One Direction

Remember the CEO who said, “We’re like a boat with many rowers, yet we’re not moving forward”? That’s what happens when effort is not guided by strategy. People work hard, but the boat doesn’t move.

With a clear strategic plan, the same rowers start pulling in sync. The boat cuts through the water. Progress feels lighter, faster, and purposeful. That’s the power of playing to win.

You don’t need a complicated process. With the 5M Framework, you can map your future, measure where you are, mobilize your priorities, make them work, and keep multiplying success.

If you’re ready, don’t just read about strategy—experience it with your team. Through Strategic Learning Consultants, I offer workshops that help leaders and organizations like yours create plans that actually work.

👉 Start small, start simple, but start today. Because the sooner your team rows in the same direction, the sooner you’ll win together.