Please don't make me plan!

I used to run business-planning seminars in London and was amazed at the number of business owners who virtually had a phobia about planning. They hated the idea of committing to a plan and even worse the though of following a plan.

As planning is a crucial element to achieving business success I am interested in why owners loathe planning!

Talking to dozen of business owners over the years, who share the planning phobia I have come to the conclusion that the phobia stems from a fear of failure.

Interestingly not having a plan will make failure much more likely but the owner is more afraid of the short-term failure of not sticking to a plan.

The logic of this, unconscious of course, seems to go like this... 'If I have a plan, that I write down and share with others in the business, and I do not stick to the plan, or the results are not what I planned, I will look bad. So, by not having a plan in the first place no one can hold owners accountable especially themselves. This kind of thinking is not constructive and lying to oneself is the most destructive kind of deception.

Another fear of failure is what if the plan turns out to be a bad one? Again the less confident owner is concerned about how they will look in the eyes of others. Successful business owners know that planning is essential to achieving their long-term vision. They also know that plans are always subject to change as things develop and time passes. The skill is not in producing the 'perfect business plan' but in producing a plan that is challenging, whilst also being realistic, achievable and adaptable to circumstances and results.