Think About Impact and Outcomes Before You Plan Your Strategic Planning Retreat

Apr 20, 2021 | Strategic Planning

Two prospective strategic planning clients reached out to me this past week. Both organizations have a new CEO, at least two new board members each, at least two new senior staff members each, and both were requesting information on how I might facilitate their plan development during a two-day board retreat. It became quickly apparent, both CEOs were simply approaching their outreach to me as somewhat of a checklist item from their board: Find a consultant for our strategic planning retreat....

Stay Relevant. Be Strategic. Do What Matters Most

Feb 16, 2021 | Leadership Development, Strategic Planning

The COVID pandemic has changed not only how and where we work, it’s also changed our priorities and perspectives. What used to be a typical day at the office, has become an extended day of jumping between working remotely, home schooling our kids, serving as on-site technical support for our kids and as remote support for our parents, all while monitoring the status of our grocery delivery to ensure the doorbell doesn’t announce its arrival during a virtual client meeting. What used to be a...

Marry Your Values to Your New Work Culture

May 26, 2020 | Leadership Development, Strategic Planning

As you continue to refine your organization’s current work culture, whether remote or in-person, don’t forget your organization’s values. Your organization’s values are your organization’s ‘House Rules.’ They define the behaviors that are expected, day in and day out, of everyone who takes a paycheck from your organization or who represents it. If someone doesn’t want to abide by your organization’s values, fine. They are simply choosing to work someplace else. Your organization’s values...

6 COVID-19 Induced Reasons Why You Should Scrap Your Current Strategic Plan

Apr 21, 2020 | Strategic Planning, WBS

When things start to settle a bit in your world as you adjust to the new reality caused by the global COVID-19 Pandemic, be prepared to dramatically revise your strategic plan. It’s no longer strategically viable. Whether your operations experience a positive or negative impact for two weeks or two years, the future work world you were envisioning when your plan was created no longer exists. The future work world you were envisioning when you created your strategic plan no longer exists Here...

Why Are We Still Doing This?

Feb 18, 2020 | Strategic Planning

During a recent quarterly strategic plan update session, the CFO had an epiphany. We had been discussing what they, as the senior staff, had done to communicate their new vision and mission to all staff. We had also discussed what they would be doing next to work with their teams to help them understand how each team’s efforts should support the new vision. As part of that discussion, I suggested the senior staff ask themselves and their teams this question: How will this (process, initiative,...