Meeting #6 for Strategic Planning (SP) Part 1

As with most SP meetings, this will be held off site for reasons previously stated.

The time is now at hand to document, put in writing, the culmination of your efforts to date. This is where, if you've managed to build commitment into your process, you'll see the Team shine. It is the reason that HOW you've done WHAT you've done is so critical.

Start with a discussion of the Goal Setting from the previous meeting. Especially important is WHY goals are being set the way they are. Extra care must be given to help EVERY member understand, and be a part of, the decisions made. Remember, the value is in the disagreements.

Objectives for the goals must be built, with time lines. Ownership
responsibilities, that were emerging as the momentum grew, must be documented/assigned to their champions. This is the "least sexy", most mundane & detailed portion that will test every one's true position in the process. The outcome may be regarded as "fun", but the doing is work.

Weaved through the entire plan is the allocation of resources: the people, time, equipment, material, technology, & money to implement the Plan.

With this background, the question becomes, how do we write the Plan? If you've chosen & supported your members well, the answer is in the room. It is in the room, not only because of the talented members, but because they have all been put through a process that has taught them each to play their role and add value in whatever way they're able.

Here are some specifics that will help you: 1) The Action Plans should support the organization's Mission, Values, & Vision. 2) If you have a larger rather than smaller SP team, you may want to limit the number of writers. This will help continuity, and simplify/shorten the process. At the same time, everyone should be CONTRIBUTING to the writers. 3) Since these are drafts, keep them simple without every detail. 4) The drafts can be reviewed by the Team itself, or the Board. It also may be of help to involve certain employees for specific input.

In the interest of time and space, we will divide this meeting outline into 2 parts. The second part follows.