As businesses gear up for another year, 2025 promises heightened challenges and opportunities. From technological advancements to evolving workforce expectations, leaders must navigate a dynamic landscape. Stephanie Christopher, Managing Director of Vistage Australia and New Zealand, emphasises that intentional leadership is key to thriving amidst such disruption.
“Strategic planning has always been a core priority for business leaders,” says Christopher. “But in today’s world of rapid change and economic uncertainty, it is more critical and complex than ever.”
Embracing the bigger picture
Christopher highlights the importance of starting with external factors when developing a strategic plan. Understanding global economic trends, industry shifts, and emerging technologies, such as AI, is essential.
“External events shape the environment in which businesses operate,” she explains. “For example, the rapid adoption of AI is transforming industries, and businesses that fail to embrace this change risk falling behind.”
Interestingly, Vistage’s Q3 2024 CEO Confidence Index survey revealed that 72 per cent of leaders rely on internally developed processes for strategic planning, while only 17 per cent use established frameworks. This underscores the need for tailored, flexible approaches to meet the unique challenges of today’s business environment.
Engaging the workforce
A company’s workforce is its most valuable asset, and involving employees in the planning process ensures the strategy resonates throughout the organisation. Leaders should seek feedback on what worked well in the past year and adapt plans to address challenges.
“Leadership means listening to your team and incorporating their insights into your strategic vision,” Christopher says. “Every individual’s plan should align with the overarching organisational strategy.”
Addressing the role of flexible work
While 99.6 per cent of Australian organisations have adopted flexible work strategies, studies show the burden of caregiving disproportionately affects women. Women account for 88 per cent of primary caregiver leave, while men take only 12 per cent. Flexible working arrangements, such as remote work and adjustable hours, are vital for retaining and advancing talented female employees. However, balancing these demands remains a challenge for many organisations..
Christopher underscores the importance of flexibility in strategic planning. “Organisations need to ensure that employees, regardless of their caregiving responsibilities, have pathways to leadership and professional growth.”
Breaking barriers to leadership
Despite progress, only 19 per cent of Australian women feel confident their industries support gender-diverse leadership teams. This lack of confidence reflects the gap between discussion and actionable change within many organisations. Christopher advocates for leaders to be intentional in creating inclusive environments and addressing unconscious biases.
Addressing key challenges
Joe Galvin, Chief Research Officer at Vistage US, identifies four pressing obstacles for CEOs in strategic planning: economic uncertainty, succession planning, geopolitical volatility, and workforce evolution. These challenges require leaders to stay agile, invest in leadership development, and align workforce strategies with organisational needs.
Leveraging peer advisory for better decisions
For more than 65 years, Vistage has helped CEOs and executives tackle their biggest challenges through confidential peer advisory groups and one-to-one coaching. Today, over 45,000 members in 35 countries rely on Vistage to make better decisions for their companies and communities.
“Peer advisory offers perspectives leaders can’t get elsewhere,” Christopher says. “It’s an invaluable resource for crafting robust strategic plans.”
Final thoughts
As leaders prepare for 2025, embracing adaptability, engaging diverse talent, and leveraging the power of peer support will lay the groundwork for success in an unpredictable future. Strategic planning is no longer just about setting goals; it’s about creating a resilient organisation that thrives amid change.
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