Our “bear-proof” trash bin had failed us.
A few months ago we looked outside to find three bags of trash strewn across our driveway. Egg shells. Meat wrappers. Coffee grounds. A complete mess.
Here’s the thing about living in the mountains: bears are smart. Really smart. And the bears in our neighborhood have figured out that if you roll a “bear-proof” bin down the hill, it’ll eventually pop open. Buffet time.
The “bear-proof” bin was initially the right solution to try. But it ultimately didn’t solve the problem—it was just an expensive box that gave us false confidence until a smart bear proved otherwise.
Executive teams do this exact same thing with their “strategic plans.”
You implement the “proven solution”—the framework everyone’s using, the metrics dashboard that looks impressive, the monthly review process that feels rigorous.
You’ve checked all the boxes. You’re doing strategic planning, right?
Except every month, you’re staring at the same mess strewn across your driveway.
The numbers didn’t hit. So you put a temporary fix in place. Next month, same problem. Another quick fix. Rinse and repeat.
You’re so focused on cleaning up this month’s mess that you never stop to ask: Why does the bin keep popping open?
This is the pattern I keep seeing: leadership teams constantly reacting to monthly metrics instead of addressing the root cause creating those metrics.
They’re buying bear-proof bins without asking if they’re solving the right problem.
Real strategic planning isn’t about better monthly reviews or fancier dashboards. It’s about stepping back and asking:
- What’s the actual problem we’re trying to solve?
- Why do we keep ending up in the same situation month after month?
- What would it take to address the root cause instead of just cleaning up the mess?
For us, the solution wasn’t a better trash bin. We researched, talked to neighbors, and jerry-rigged ratchet straps to secure the bin. Scrappy? Yes. Unattractive? Yeah. Unconventional? Definitely. But so far, it’s working.
Your strategic plan might not look like the glossy framework in the consultant’s deck. It might be scrappier and more customized to your specific challenges than you’d like.
But if it actually addresses your root cause instead of just containing this month’s mess? That’s the real solution.
The question isn’t whether you have a strategic plan. It’s whether your plan is actually bear-proof…or just checking boxes until the next smart challenge rolls it down the hill.
What mess keeps showing up on your driveway month after month? And when are you going to stop buying better bins and start asking why the bears keep winning?
(If this sounds like your company, contact me and let’s connect about how facilitated strategic planning could work for you.)
More about me and 110 West Group HERE.
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