When I work with organisations to develop their strategic plans it still surprises me how varied the goals and expectations of the team around the table can actually be.
So often senior management teams, who thought they were all heading in the same direction, discover with amazement the different future visions held by their colleagues.
As deep differences are uncovered, the reasons for conflict, problems and past failures can become evident. The clear and obvious path forward for one person represents a backward turn for another, until consensus can be reached on organisational direction. Values which some thought were shared by the group may need to be questioned and the meaning, mission and purpose of the organisation scrutinized.
Many programs, departments and organisations have been created and succeeded with no formal business plan. But only if they have a definite strategy: a strategic planning blueprint for success consisting of a clear vision of the future, a strong sense of purpose, a set of shared values and common expectations which guide the articulation of goals or milestones.
Organisations without such a strategic planning blueprint for success, not only clearly articulated but agreed and widely communicated, struggle.
Your Strategic Planning Blueprint
As organisations grow, articulating the strategic planning blueprint can often lead into a more formal business plan. For a smaller organisation, or a special program or project, just the blueprint or strategic plan may be sufficient. But the process of creating your strategic planning blueprint for success underpins most successful teams at all levels in your organisation.
Are all your people working to achieve the same vision?
“The only limits are, as always, those of vision.”
James Broughton
Contact us today for details of how you can develop an effective strategic planning blueprint that brings your whole team together to achieve the success you desire.
To book Kerrie to facilitate your meeting, or speak at your upcoming conference or event:
To ensure your events are “Even Better Events”:
Effective Strategic Planning
The process of strategic planning is probably one of the most powerful tools available to an organisation, department or team. When a group work together to develop a plan they carry a strong commitment to implementing it away with them.
Yet too many people have had poor experiences with strategic planning sessions which fail to reach decisions, or where communication problems, dominant personalities and internal politics prevent constructive interaction.
There is a lot written about strategic planning, but much less on how to ensure your strategic planning session is effective.
What makes Strategic Planning Effective?
A successful and effective strategic planning session needs to:
Achieving all these outcomes, as well as generating a sound strategic plan, is more likely with independent, professional facilitation. A good strategic planning facilitator brings structure, an impartial perspective and useful expertise, experience and feedback.
Experience shows that when your strategic planning session is run by a team member the most likely outcome is a long staff meeting, with all the inherent dangers of entrenched positions, ‘group think’ and resistance to change.
An experienced facilitator who is expert in the strategic planning process can guide your group to a successful outcome by introducing new approaches and helping participants think creatively about problems, issues and opportunities.
By keeping discussions focused, on track and on time, and ensuring all voices are heard, key decisions are taken in a positive way, making sure your strategic planning is most effective.
Special Offer
If you are uncertain whether to use an external facilitator for your meeting, or you need to convince someone else to use one, have a look at our Free Fact Sheet ‘Why Use a Facilitator?’
(More ideas on how you can facilitate effective strategic planning in the Quick Tips below.)
Strategic Planning Facilitation Quick Tips
Involve your facilitator in designing your planning session. Their experience with many other groups offers valuable insight and new perspectives into what will be most effective in achieving your goals for the planning process.
A competent and experienced facilitator will have the flexibility, skills and ability to guide your group to its ultimate objective via a range of different paths. Encourage and empower your facilitator to modify planned activities in response to the group dynamic on the day.
Consider using an external strategic planning facilitator for other important meetings such as project debriefs, incident reviews, evaluations sessions, change implementation programs, employee forums, community or customer consultations and leadership programs.
…And Call us on 03-9859 3924 to discuss how we can help make your next strategic planning workshop your most effective yet!
Categories: Strategic planning - Tags: running a strategic planning session for directors, tips for a successful strategic planning session?, f, facilitation services, facilitating strategic planning meetings, facilitate a strategic planning meeting, trends in strategic planning, strategic planning meeting, how to faciliate a strategic planning session, facilitating effective strategic planning