We at The Change Initiative have designed and facilitated hundreds of strategic planning sessions. When strategic planning is done right, it can be a very useful and satisfying meeting. But too often it is done poorly and participants feel it is a waste of time. Are you aware of one of the most important lessons regarding strategic planning?
We know there is no one right way to do strategic planning.
Each client who contacts us has their own unique challenges and requirements. We help our clients to first verify and validate their needs, and then collaboratively design a meeting process that will help them get the results they want in a manner that will work for them.
We frequently receive requests to facilitate strategic planning workshops or retreats, and over the years we have experimented to see what works best. Of course we are experienced in applying and facilitating common tools such as environmental scan (PESTLE), SWOT analysis, creating a vision mission and values statement, setting goals and objectives, and action planning. While these methods have their place, we at The Change Initiative can draw not only on many years of hands-on experience, but also on many approaches and tools that are originating from different parts of the world. For example, we have tested and adapted many tools from the German organizational development and change management scene – arguably one of the most sophisticated and advanced source of effective and innovative methods. We are also experienced in approaches such as Appreciative Inquiry for strategic planning, various foresight techniques, and alternative visioning approaches.
In a nutshell:
We will provide you with a blend of Asian, Anglo-Saxon, and West European expertise to collaboratively create an effective strategic planning process that will create the buy-in and commitment you are seeking.
Tools and approaches are only successful with professional strategic planning facilitation. A good facilitator can make all the difference in the world. A neutral facilitator doesn’t have a stake in the outcome and is in the best position to be unbiased. By taking over the meeting, we allow the leaders to participate like they never could before.
If you want to find out how we can help you get more out of your next strategic planning workshop, contact our leading expert, Mr. Jost Wagner, at jw@change-initiative.com