Get it done -- and make it work

You may be sitting there right now wondering how you are going to get your business plan done. It's no secret that writing a business plan can be a tedious, drawn- out process that ends in frustration. However, by identifying the purpose of the plan and getting your team on board with it early on, you can avoid getting stalled in the writing process and end up with something that unites your company behind common goals.

A business plan is foremost a sales document

Use your plan to sell the business concept. Start by selling your plan internally. Your ultimate objective may be to present the plan to bankers, investors, or other business partners. However, if you can sell your plan internally and get buy in from your team, you will have a stronger plan and a more compelling presentation for external use.

Developing a plan in PowerPoint gets you there more quickly

Using PowerPoint to create a plan in presentation format allows you to frame the main ideas quickly. Spend your time developing enlightening visuals and putting your ideas into bullet form rather than writing prose. You will be able to crystallize your thoughts and create a better vehicle for communicating with your team in a group setting.

Communicate the basics and let your team fill in the blanks

The trick to getting your team on board is to make sure that they are part of the planning process. First, you should interview your key people before you start writing the plan to make sure that you get their perspectives on issues facing the business. Second, when you present the plan make sure that you leave something for them to add. You want the team members to take some ownership of the plan. That doesn't mean that they need to write it, but they need to feel like their ideas have been heard. Finally, don't hold back critical pieces of the plan. People generally respond positively when they understand the whole picture.

Let actions speak louder than words in your business

After you have presented the plan and discussed the vision for the company. Make sure that each member of the team has at least one action item or objective in executing the plan. This will make the plan stick. In addition, always reference company initiatives to the plan. This will give people a sense of closure and give them a concrete view of how the plan is being implemented.