CLEAR

 

​

1. Clarify the Objective (the Strategy’s Purpose)

 

Purpose: Define the function of your strategy in supporting the success of your goal. Recognize what you expect from the strategy. Be specific to avoid ambiguity and misalignment of your efforts with your goal.

 

Action: Determine what the strategy must accomplish. Avoid ambiguity that could lead to misjudgment.

 

Key Questions:

​

• What specific role will this strategy play in reaching the goal?

• What criteria must it meet? (Examples: cost-efficiency, speed, scalability, risk tolerance.)

 

Example:

​

• Goal (from IMPACT): “Increase organic website traffic by 40% in 6 months.”

• Strategy Purpose: “The strategy must prioritize SEO optimization and evergreen content creation over paid ads.”

 

Why It Matters: A vague strategy leads to misaligned efforts. By clarifying its purpose upfront, you ensure it directly serves the goal’s unique requirements.

 

 

2. List Assets and Limitations

 

Purpose: Audit resources and constraints specific to the strategy’s purpose.

Action: Conduct an audit of assets (tools, expertise, capital) and limitations (knowledge gaps, financial constraints, operational inefficiencies).

 

Key Questions:

​

• What assets (e.g., tools, expertise, budget) can directly enable this strategy?

• What limitations (e.g., technical gaps, time constraints) could hinder it?

​

Example:

​

• Assets: Existing blog content library, SEO tools.

• Limitations: No in-house content writer.

 

Why It Matters: Miscalculating available resources or overlooking constraints often leads to unrealistic strategies and wasted effort. For instance, a startup with a strong social media following might prioritize influencer marketing over untested paid ads.

 

 

3. Explore Strategic Options

 

Purpose: Identify multiple potential strategies that align with the goal and available resources.

 

Action: Brainstorm or research different approaches, considering both proven and innovative methods.

 

Key Questions:

​

• What approaches align with the defined purpose (e.g., SEO focus)?

• Are we considering both conventional and innovative methods?

• Which options provide the best balance of feasibility and result?

Example:

​

• Repurpose existing blog posts into video content.

• Partner with niche influencers for backlink building.

• Launch a guest blogging initiative to drive referral traffic.

 

Why It Matters: Defaulting to the first idea limits strategic potential. This step ensures a broader evaluation of solutions for success.

 

 

4. Analyze Feasibility

 

Purpose: Match the strategy to your capabilities and constraints. Anticipate challenges and forecast outcomes. Evaluate how each strategy might perform under varying conditions. This step highlights challenges and refines your selection.

 

Action: Score each option using a structured ranking system. Consider different scenarios and anticipate obstacles.

 

Criteria (1–5 Scale):

​

• Alignment: How well does it meet the strategy’s purpose?

• Viability: Can it be executed with current assets?

• Adaptability: How easily can it adjust to setbacks?

 

Example:

​

• Option: Repurpose blog content.

  • Alignment: 5 (supports SEO focus).

  • Viability: 4 (uses existing assets).

  • Adaptability: 3 (requires video editing skills).

 

Why It Matters: A strategy that ignores feasibility can easily fail. A bakery expanding nationally, for example, might first test logistics with regional delivery partnerships before scaling further.

 

 

5. Refine and Record

 

Purpose: Finalize the strategy best aligned with your capabilities and goal, then document the rationale for your decision. This creates accountability and provides a clear reference for future adjustments.

Action: Select the highest-scoring strategy and outline its implementation steps.

 

Key Questions:

​

• How does this strategy maximize our strengths while mitigating critical limitations?

• What measurable benchmarks will indicate progress toward the goal?

• How adaptable is this strategy if external conditions or assumptions shift?

• Is the rationale documented to guide implementation and inform future adjustments?

 

Example:

​

• Goal: Increase website engagement by 50% in 3 months.

• Strategy Purpose: Prioritize content diversification (e.g., video, infographics).

• Assets: Blog content library, SEO tools.

• Limitations: No in-house video editing expertise.

 

1. Selected Strategy: Repurpose blog content into video format.

2. Adaptation: Outsource video editing to a freelancer (addresses skill gap).

3. Documentation:

​

o    Rationale: “Video content aligns with audience preferences (75% of users engage with video). Outsourcing ensures quality without hiring costs.”

o    Implementation Steps:

- Audit top-performing blog posts (Week 1).

- Hire a freelancer via Upwork (Week 2).

- Launch the first 3 videos (Week 3–4).

o    Success Metrics: Track video views, time-on-page, and social shares.

 

Why It Matters:  Documentation creates accountability and a reference for future adjustments. A documented strategy promotes commitment and focus.

​

​