Business Planning
Internal Relationships Plan
In a traditional, BIG Business Plan, this sub-plan is referred to as the Industrial Relations Plan. Once again, the perspective is so limited in its scope that it leads to oversights and omissions that sabotage the entire Business Plan — and the business it’s designed to guide and direct.
Certainly, you need to have an Industrial Relations strategy. But only as part of an overall Internal Relationships Plan. To do otherwise would risk overlooking these important relationships, all critically important to the success of your business:
- Your shareholders
Your partners
Your spouse
Your management team
I realise that not every small business will have all of these, and that some are alternatives (for example, you wouldn’t have both shareholders and partners in the same business structure). It’s simply a checklist of key relationships that do NOT fall within the scope of Industrial Relations, yet are equally important and need effective management strategies if they’re to offer optimum leverage.
An effective Internal Relationships Plan will consider the following factors:
- What does each group/individual seek from their involvement in the business?
- What resources do they bring to the business?
- How can you most effectively satisfy their needs and fulfil their desires in order to gain optimum use of their resources to achieve your vision, and to help you work less and earn more?
- What conditions need to be met, and what leadership skills do you need, in order for these results to be achieved for both sides?
- How can you ensure that the Three Criteria of Fulfilment are met in each case?
- How can these objectives best be met by the 4R Approach to Small Business Management?
- What legal and other regulatory requirements must be met in connection with each group, including those covered by your Industrial Relations Strategy?
Return to Your Business Vehicle
Business
Mission/Business Vision
• Key Competitive Edge
Basis
for Business/Basis for Growth
• Customer Relationships
Finance •
Internal
Relationships • External Relationships
