16 Strategic Planner Skills for Your Career and Resume

Strategic planners are responsible for developing long-term plans for businesses and organizations. They use a variety of skills to analyze data, identify trends and develop strategies. If you’re interested in a career as a strategic planner, it’s important to understand the skills that are essential for success in this role.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Strategic planners often need flexibility because their plans can change over time as new information becomes available or conditions in the market shift. Flexibility allows strategic planners to adjust their strategies accordingly and remain effective in their roles.

Data Analysis

Data analysis is the process of examining data to understand trends and patterns. Strategic planners use data analysis to evaluate their organization’s performance, identify areas for improvement and develop strategies that will help them achieve their goals. Data analysis requires strong analytical skills, including attention to detail, logical reasoning and an ability to interpret large amounts of information quickly.

Project Management

Project management skills are necessary for strategic planners because they often oversee multiple projects at once. Strategic planners use their project management skills to ensure that all of the projects they’re working on meet their organization’s goals and objectives. They also use these skills to manage their team, which can include assigning tasks, monitoring deadlines and providing guidance when needed.

SWOT Analysis

Strategic planners use SWOT analysis to assess their organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This process involves identifying the internal factors that affect an organization’s ability to achieve its goals and the external factors that may influence those outcomes. Strategic planners then develop strategies to address any challenges they identify through SWOT analysis.

Decision Making

Strategic planners use their decision-making skills to determine the best course of action for a project. They analyze data and research, consider all possible outcomes and make recommendations based on their findings. Strategic planners also need to be able to evaluate new information that may change an existing strategy. This requires them to make quick decisions about which actions are most beneficial to the organization.

Goal Setting

Goal setting is the process of defining what you want to achieve in a certain period of time. Strategic planners use goal-setting skills when creating actionable steps for their plans. For example, if your plan involves increasing sales by 10 percent over the next year, you might set goals like reaching 100 new clients or generating $1 million in revenue.

Strategic planners also use goal-setting skills when determining how they will measure success. For example, if one of your goals is to increase sales by 10 percent, you can create metrics that show whether you’ve met this goal, such as comparing current sales numbers with previous years’ sales numbers.

Creativity

Creativity is the ability to think of new ideas and solutions. Strategic planners often use creativity when brainstorming, developing strategies and creating campaigns. Creativity can help you come up with unique ways to solve problems or reach goals. It also allows you to develop fresh ideas that may lead to more effective strategies than those already in place.

Business Planning

Business planning is the ability to create and execute a plan for your company’s future. Strategic planners often use business planning skills when creating strategies that can affect an organization’s success or failure. Business planning involves assessing risks, setting goals and objectives, identifying resources needed to achieve those goals and developing actionable steps to reach them.

Risk Assessment

Strategic planners use their risk assessment skills to identify potential challenges that may arise during the planning process. This allows them to create strategies for overcoming these obstacles and minimizing any risks they pose to achieving organizational goals. Strategic planners also use their risk assessment skills when creating actionable steps, as they can determine which actions are likely to lead to success and which ones may result in failure.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze information and make decisions based on facts. Strategic planners use critical thinking skills when evaluating data, analyzing trends and making forecasts about future consumer behavior. They also use these skills when considering potential solutions to challenges their company may face in the future.

Financial Modeling

Financial modeling is the process of creating a financial model, which is a representation of an organization’s finances. Strategic planners use financial models to predict how changes in business operations might affect future profits and losses. Financial models are also useful for evaluating potential investments by showing how much money an organization can expect to make from each option.

Analytical Skills

Strategic planners use their analytical skills to evaluate data and make informed decisions. They analyze trends, statistics and other information to determine what strategies will be most effective for a company’s goals. Strategic planners also use their analytical skills when they create actionable steps for the team to follow. For example, if the strategic planner determines that the company needs to update its website, they might break down the task into smaller pieces, such as researching different web design companies or interviewing potential designers.

Communication

Communication is the ability to convey information in a way that others can understand. Strategic planners use communication skills when they present their plans to clients and colleagues, as well as when they explain aspects of the plan to employees who will carry out its tasks. Strong communication skills allow strategic planners to be clear about what they expect from others and how they want them to act.

Organizational Skills

Organization is a crucial skill for strategic planners to have, as it allows them to keep track of their projects and ensure they meet deadlines. Strategic planners often use organizational tools like task management software or calendars to stay on top of their work. They also need to be able to prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities to other members of the team.

PESTLE Analysis

PESTLE analysis is a common framework used by strategic planners to analyze their industry and its potential challenges. It stands for political, economic, social, technological and legal factors that can influence the success of a business strategy. Strategic planners use PESTLE analysis to identify opportunities and risks in an organization’s current environment and future outlook.

Competitive Analysis

Strategic planners use their skills in competitive analysis to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their company compared to its competitors. This allows them to create strategies that help their organization overcome any challenges it may face. Strategic planners also analyze their industry’s competition to determine if there are any changes they need to make to stay ahead of their rivals.

How Can I Learn These Strategic Planner Skills?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to learn the skills of a strategic planner will vary depending on your individual learning style and needs. However, some suggestions for how to learn these skills include taking courses or attending workshops on strategic planning, reading books or articles on the topic, and shadowing or working with a experienced strategic planner in order to gain first-hand experience and knowledge. Additionally, practicing these skills through simulations or case studies can also be beneficial in order to learn how to apply them in real-world scenarios.