“We are too busy doing stuff! We don’t have time for strategic planning!”
Once you get past this objection then you get: “Okay, but we
need to be efficient!” Which I
appreciate. None of us have the time for
everything we want to get done.
But I do recommend that you be deliberative about three
aspects of preparing for your strategic planning process before charging ahead
too quickly:
1. Consider conducting a Board Self-Assessment
prior to the strategy process. The
benefits of this are making sure that your Board is operating as a high
performing team, that they understand their responsibilities, and that you have
the “Right Board” ready to do the strategy work. My favorite example is a Board which
legitimately did not realize that fundraising was one of their
responsibilities. Following a self-assessment, they enthusiastically
accepted the responsibility and it made them realize they needed to add some
additional, well connected Board members prior to strategic planning.
2. Take the time to connect with and involve
stakeholders in the process. This
takes time, but is well worth it. Check
out this blog for more on the value of nurturing stakeholders continuously. They can provide ideas and insights you might
otherwise miss, and will be more likely to support implementation if you
involve them early on.
3. Carefully select your Strategy Planning Committee. I recommend a group of 15-20 people – and a
mix of Board, Staff, and Stakeholders.
With fewer than 15, I get concerned about the lack of divergent
thinking. With more than 20, it gets
unwieldy. Make sure you have the right
Board representation so that the final product will pass through the full
Board. And consider involving junior
staff as well as management. Community
stakeholders, potential Board member, funders, and those who utilize the
services are great voices to have at the strategy table.
Thorough prep will improve your overall strategy process and
allow you to make even more of a Mission
Impact!
For
more ideas on how you can lead breakthroughs in your organization, follow this
blog and check out my web site at www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com You will find free resources you can
download, including a Breakthrough Strategy Workbook that you can download at
no cost. You can also check out my book,
Mission Impact: Breakthrough Strategies
for Nonprofits, and buy it if you are interested. And you can follow Sheehan Nonprofit
Consulting on Facebook.
