Last year, I wrote about SWOT, TOWS, PEST, and other well-known methods. There is an ocean of models and frameworks you can use in sales, planning, and strategic work, but the most important thing is not which method you choose. Whether you swear by one method, combine several, or invent your own “Pink Flying Unicorn Strategy” really matters less. What matters is that you actually use a method. Without one, even the best idea can feel as distant and unattainable as a floating unicorn.
Why Methods Matter in Strategy and Planning
I have seen management teams choose methods based on their mood of the day, the latest article they read, or simply whichever way the wind was blowing. The result was unpredictable processes and unclear lessons learned.
It is similar to trying to fix a technical problem on your computer. If you change several settings, update software, and finally restart the machine without documenting what you actually did, the issue might disappear, but you have no idea why. The next time the problem occurs, you are just as clueless as before.
Why Methodical Testing Produces Better Results
Methodical testing is about understanding what actually creates results. This does not only apply to technical troubleshooting, but also to ordinary everyday situations.
For example, have you ever tried making the “perfect” homemade pizza? If you change the dough, toppings, and oven temperature all at the same time, it becomes difficult to know what actually improved the pizza. You also lose the opportunity to improve the result systematically.
Why Methodical Work Produces Better Results
In working life, this becomes even more important. If you test multiple strategies at the same time without documenting what was changed, you risk wasting time and resources without knowing what actually created the results. A methodical approach makes it easier to isolate variables, evaluate measures, and build upon what you learn.
According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), projects that follow a strategic methodology are 57% more likely to achieve organizational goals. This demonstrates that structure and strategic approaches are not merely theoretical concepts, but concrete success factors. Studies from PMI and BusinessMap highlight how methodical approaches provide businesses with a significant advantage, both in achieving goals and learning from the process along the way.
Methods Create Structure and Learning
Which method you choose is ultimately up to you. The important thing is being honest about whether you actually have a documented plan, or whether you are letting randomness control the process. After all, there are methods that have proven themselves time and time again, well-tested tools that have contributed to success in sales, project management, and strategy development.
When you use a method consistently, you create not only structure, but also a shared understanding within your team.
Methods make it easier to evaluate what works and what does not. Most importantly, you learn from the process and avoid feeling that everything is random.
