The role of a Strategic Planner has become increasingly crucial in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. As businesses try to stay ahead of the competition and adjust to a market that is always changing, the need for skilled Strategic Planners has grown significantly.
Recent data shows that job postings for Strategic Planner positions have gone up a lot across all industries. This shows that strategic planning is becoming more and more recognized as a key driver of success. HR professionals and CXOs are very important when it comes to finding and hiring the best people in this field because they know how important strategic planning is for achieving long-term organizational goals. In this situation, it is very important to come up with good interview questions that can test the candidates’ strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to handle tough business problems.
Strategic planning is a critical component of success for any company. As a hiring manager, it’s important to assess a candidate’s strategic planning skills and experience during the interview process. Asking the right strategic planning interview questions will give you insight into how a candidate thinks strategically and whether they will be able to drive strategic initiatives at your company.
In this article, we will explore some of the best strategic planning interview questions to ask candidates. We will provide example questions, as well as tips on what makes a good strategic planner and what to listen for in candidate responses. Read on to learn how to assess strategic thinking during the interview process
Why Strategic Planning Skills Are Important
First, let’s discuss why strategic planning skills are so critical for certain roles at a company Strategic planners are responsible for developing, implementing, and managing short-term and long-term strategic plans They analyze internal and external data, identify opportunities for growth, and determine how to allocate resources to meet objectives.
Strong strategic planners demonstrate certain key qualities:
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Critical thinking – They can objectively analyze complex information and develop effective solutions.
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Vision – They have the ability to anticipate future needs and opportunities for the company.
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Leadership – They can convince and guide other leaders and employees to buy into strategic plans.
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Communication – They can explain strategic plans in a simple, compelling way at all levels of the organization.
When you are interviewing candidates for strategic planning roles, your questions should be designed to assess whether the candidate possesses these traits. Let’s look at some examples.
Strategic Planning Interview Questions to Ask
Here are some strategic planning interview questions that will reveal the strategic thinking abilities of candidates:
Tell me about a time when you led a strategic planning initiative. What was the outcome?
This open-ended question allows candidates to demonstrate their strategic leadership experience. Listen for details about how they determined strategic goals, worked with stakeholders, developed buy-in, and executed the plan.
Follow up by asking them to explain the outcome of the strategic initiative. Were the desired results achieved? How did they measure success? Their response will reveal their capability to develop and implement realistic strategic plans.
How do you monitor progress during the strategic planning process? How do you hold yourself and others accountable?
Equip yourself with strategic planning skills to help achieve your goals. These skills can make you a more effective leader.
This question tests for critical thinking skills. Good strategic planners set clear milestones and metrics to track progress. They also implement processes to ensure accountability. Listen for strategic measurement tactics in their response.
Ask follow up questions if they give vague answers about progress monitoring. You want to hear specifics about the key performance indicators (KPIs) they track and how they course-correct when metrics are off-target.
Tell me about a time you needed to modify or change a strategic plan. What factors led to that decision?
Strategic plans should evolve with changing market conditions, new technologies, and other external factors. Changing course requires vision, critical thinking, and flexibility.
Listen for how this candidate analyzes data to determine when change is needed. Do they mention monitoring key metrics that reflect market forces and competitive landscape? Do they make data-driven decisions?
You also want to hear that they can adapt plans as required without veering too far from the original strategic vision and goals. They should provide context around the factors that necessitated change while explaining how they minimized disruption to strategic initiatives.
Imagine our company wants to expand and enter a new market in the next two years. Walk me through how you would approach this strategically.
This hypothetical question gauges multiple strategic planning skills. The candidate should demonstrate vision in identifying a new target market with growth potential. They should ask probing questions about your company’s current position and capabilities to uncoverconstraints and opportunities.
In their response, listen for:
- Market research to validate the opportunity
- Analysis of risks and required resources
- Timelines and milestones
- Estimated ROI
- Partnership and talent strategies
- Change management tactics
Their answer will reveal analytical abilities and how they balance vision with pragmatism during strategic planning.
How would you go about building consensus for a new strategic plan among executives or stakeholders who may be resistant?
Gaining buy-in for strategic plans can be challenging. This question tests leadership and communication skills. Listen for influence tactics like:
- Presenting data that makes a compelling case for change
- Appealing to values and emotions to win over skeptics
- Addressing concerns head on and having counterarguments ready
- Focusing on how the plan benefits stakeholders
- Compromising on implementation details without sacrificing the core strategy
Strategic thinkers must persuasively communicate plans to diverse audiences. Does their response show they know how to customize messaging and navigate politics?
In your experience, what are some risks associated with strategic planning? How can they be mitigated?
Good strategic planners know it’s impossible to eliminate risk. This question reveals how the candidate thinks about risk management during strategic planning. You want to hear examples like:
- Asking probing questions during planning to identify blind spots
- Developing contingency plans for different scenarios
- Using pilots or betas to test strategies before full implementation
- Building in flexibility, so plans can adapt to changing conditions
- Monitoring leading indicators to get ahead of emergent risks
- Securing executive sponsorship early to enable quick pivots if needed
Look for strategic, nuanced risk mitigation tactics. Vague answers are a red flag.
Assessing Soft Skills and Experience
In addition to strategic thinking, you should also assess critical soft skills like communication, influence, and analytical skills during the interview. Here are some questions to ask:
- Tell me about your experience with data analysis. What tools and techniques do you use to analyze internal and external data during strategic planning?
- Describe how you present strategic plans to executives to secure buy-in. How do you tailor your messaging for different audiences?
- Give me an example of a time you influenced a team to implement a new strategic initiative. How did you convince them and gain their buy-in?
- How do you communicate strategic plans to frontline employees? What channels do you use to build company-wide alignment?
And of course, you’ll want to inquire about their general experience with strategic planning:
- How many years of experience do you have developing and executing strategic plans? In what industries?
- What types of strategic frameworks and tools are you familiar with? How have you applied them?
- What do you think are the biggest challenges of leading strategic planning at an organization?
Asking Follow-Up Strategic Planning Interview Questions
Don’t forget to ask follow-up questions to probe deeper into their experiences and thought processes. Some examples:
- Why did your team use that particular strategic framework?
- How did you identify those strategic opportunities and risks?
- What data did you present to leadership to gain support?
- Walk me through how you developed those financial projections.
- What was the outcome of implementing that tactic?
Follow-up questions reveal analytical skills and strategic thinking capabilities that candidates don’t get a chance to demonstrate with high-level answers.
How to Assess Strategic Planning Interview Responses
When evaluating candidate responses to your strategic planning interview questions, watch for the following signs that indicate strategic thinking:
✅Asks probing questions before providing answers to learn more about the company situation
✅Draws on specific data or examples to back up assertions
✅Considers pros and cons of different approaches
✅Explains rationale behind strategic decisions and recommendations
✅Shows ability to think long-term while delivering short-term wins
✅Demonstrates analytical skills by breaking down problems and synthesizing data
✅Exhibits vision and creativity in identifying future opportunities
✅Displays emotional intelligence and influencing skills when discussing how to gain buy-in
Look for these indicators in their responses to get a feel for how they think strategically. And pay attention if they show any of these red flags:
❌Gives vague, general answers lacking specifics
❌Focuses only on high-level strategy without operational details
❌Seems dismissive of risks
❌Lacks vision and creativity in responses
❌Doesn’t ask clarifying questions before responding
These could signal weaker strategic planning skills.
With the right interview questions, you can effectively evaluate strategic thinking and experience. Keep this list handy during your next strategic planning interview! Asking thoughtful questions will help you determine if a candidate can spearhead strategic initiatives and shape your company’s future.
5 sample answers to behavioral interview questions for the Strategic Planner
- Tell me about a time when you had to come up with a big business plan to deal with a problem. How did you approach it, and what were the outcomes?.
When hiring, look for people who can show they can think strategically, solve problems, and get good results through good planning and execution.
Sample answer: “In my previous role, our organization faced intense competition and declining market share. I developed a strategic plan that focused on product differentiation and expanding into new markets. To approach this challenge, I conducted market research, analyzed customer feedback, and identified untapped market segments. I collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop new product features and targeted marketing campaigns. Because of this, we got a 10% rise in market share in just six months and were able to position our products as unique and compelling solutions. ”.
- Tell me about a time when you had to change a strategic plan because of changes in the market or in the priorities of the business. What did you do in that situation, and what did it lead to?
look for: Candidates who can show they are flexible, quick, and able to deal with unexpected problems while staying focused on the big picture and getting things done well.
“During a strategic planning cycle, there was a sudden problem in the supply chain that caused costs to go up and product launches to be pushed back.” To address this, I facilitated a cross-functional workshop to reassess our strategic priorities and reallocate resources. We quickly adapted the plan by prioritizing local suppliers, and implementing cost-saving measures, and adjusting product launch timelines. Even though there were problems, we were able to launch the products on time, cut costs by 2015, and kept customer satisfaction high. ”.
- Give an example of a project where you worked well with stakeholders and cross-functional teams to create and carry out a strategic initiative. How did you ensure alignment and cooperation?.
Find candidates who can show they can work well with others, build relationships, and get different groups of people to agree on things and work together.
“In a previous job, I led a strategic initiative to improve the customer experience at a number of points of contact.” To ensure collaboration and alignment, I organized regular cross-functional team meetings and established clear communication channels. I facilitated workshops and encouraged open dialogue to gather diverse perspectives and foster cooperation. We successfully launched the initiative by setting a common goal and involving all teams. This led to a 25% rise in customer satisfaction and improved customer retention. ”.
- Tell me about a time when you saw a market opportunity or a way to get ahead of the competition. How did you leverage it to benefit the organization?.
look for: Candidates who can show they know the market, can think strategically, and can spot and take advantage of opportunities to help the company succeed.
Sample answer: “While monitoring market trends, I identified a shift in consumer preferences towards eco-friendly products. Recognizing this as a strategic opportunity, I developed a sustainability-focused product line and marketing campaign. I collaborated with R&D, marketing, and production teams to ensure the timely launch of these products. Our organization gained a competitive advantage by being one of the first movers in the market. Because of this, we saw a 20% increase in sales and gained a new group of customers who care about the environment. ”.
- Tell me about a time when you managed a complicated strategic project with tight deadlines, lots of stakeholders, and few resources well. How did you set priorities and divide up resources to make sure the project went well?
When hiring, look for people who can show they can manage projects well, set priorities, and make the best use of resources to get the job done.
“In a previous job, I was in charge of a strategic project that created and launched a new line of products.” With a tight deadline and limited resources, I employed a structured project management approach. I made a detailed project plan, listed important milestones, and divided up resources based on how important each task was and how it depended on the others. We were able to manage risks, use existing resources to their fullest, and finish the project on time and on budget by communicating and working together with all stakeholders well. The new product line generated a 30% increase in revenue within the first year. ”.
5 sample answers to general interview questions for the Strategic Planner
- Could you talk about your experience with strategic planning and how it has helped other businesses succeed?
Look for candidates who can talk about their experience with strategic planning, show a history of making positive contributions, and talk about how they have helped other organizations.
Example answer: “As a Strategic Planner at XYZ Company, I was in charge of making and carrying out the company’s three-year strategic plan.” By doing in-depth market research and analysis, I found untapped customer segments. This led to a targeted marketing campaign that brought in more customers in 2020. I also put in place a cost optimization strategy that led to a 15% decrease in operational costs, which made the company significantly more profitable. ”.
- How do you set priorities for strategic goals and make sure they are in line with an organization’s overall mission and vision?
Candidates should be able to show that they can align strategic goals with the organization’s vision and mission. This will show that they can think strategically and see the bigger picture.
Sample answer: “When prioritizing strategic objectives, I always start by thoroughly understanding the organization’s vision and mission. I then assess each objective based on its alignment with these overarching goals. For example, during my time at ABC Company, the mission was to become a leader in sustainable practices. In line with this mission, I set high priorities for strategic goals that focused on promoting environmentally friendly products, implementing green initiatives, and lowering our carbon footprint. This strategy not only helped the company reach its environmental goals, but it also improved its brand reputation and kept customers coming back. ”.
- How do you make sure that key stakeholders are involved in the strategic planning process and that they agree with and support the plan?
Look for candidates who can communicate and interact with stakeholders in a way that shows they can build relationships, get buy-in, and promote alignment throughout the strategic planning process.
“I strongly believe that key stakeholders should be involved in the strategic planning process to make sure that they buy in and agree with the plan.” When I worked at DEF Corporation, I set up regular strategy workshops where I invited people from different departments to share their ideas and help plan things. By actively listening to their input and addressing their concerns, I gained their trust and commitment. So, when the final strategic plan was shown to the executive team, it had a lot of support and was put into action successfully across the whole company. ”.
- Could you explain how you use new technologies and the shift to digital in your strategic plans?
You should look for candidates who know about new technologies and can show that they can use them strategically. This will show that they understand how technology can help businesses grow and come up with new ideas.
Sample answer: “I believe in harnessing the power of emerging technologies and digital transformation to drive strategic initiatives. At GHI Company, I recognized the potential of artificial intelligence in optimizing operational processes and improving customer experience. As the leader of a digital transformation initiative, I put in place an AI-powered chatbot that handled customer service questions automatically. This led to a 30% decrease in response time and a 25% rise in customer satisfaction. By strategically adopting new technologies, we were able to stay ahead of the competition and set up the business for future growth. ”.
- What are some ways to look at your competitors and find ways to stand out and get an edge over them?
look for: Candidates who have a strong analytical mind, knowledge of the market, and the ability to spot chances for differentiation and competitive advantage in a fast-paced business environment
Sample answer: “Assessing the competitive landscape is a key aspect of my strategic planning process. When I worked at JKL Corporation, I often did competitor analyses to learn about their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning. By leveraging these insights, I identified opportunities for differentiation and competitive advantage. For example, I found a hole in the market for customized customer experiences and created a personalized loyalty program that led to a rise in customer retention and market share gain in 2015. Understanding the competitive landscape allows me to make informed strategic decisions that position the organization for sustainable growth. ”.
