What To Expect From Strategic PlanningStrategic planning starts with an in-depth conversation about what is most important. It continues with an in-depth review of key positions, making sure there are the right people in place for successful strategic execution. |
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Through these substantial discussions, a strategic planner like Geery Howe, M.A. becomes a trusted partner, facilitator, and guide, exploring with the senior leadership and the organization as a whole such questions as:
- When everything is working right, what does this organization look like and feel like for employees and the customers?
- What kind of people, structure, systems, and culture do you need to create this picture of optimal performance?
- What areas does the organization need to improve in order to move closer to this picture of performance?
- What needs to be in the actual strategic plan to make it a working tool rather than a shelf ornament?
While every strategic planning process is different, mainly because each organization is different, one should expect a strategic planner to offer thoughtful insights, careful analysis, frank observations, and meaningful perspective. A strategic planner should also have experience working with a diversity of clients in large and small organizations.
Furthermore, the strategic planner should facilitate the planning process, and be able to capture and synthesize the ongoing strategic dialogue into meaningful areas of strategic focus, goals and metrics.
Finally, through careful listening and the sharing of many years of experience, a strategic planner should end of every planning session outline a course of action for the next steps.
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