On the Right Path

“If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.” - Yogi Berra

I’m a map lover. I can get “lost” looking at maps for hours at a time. And if you ask me to be the navigator on a road trip, my heart starts to flutter. GPS has not made it into my household yet, and may not anytime soon, as that would take away my need to look at maps in a more organic way.

It’s not always just about the best, most efficient method of getting someplace. It’s sometimes about the side roads that can get you where you want to go and what you might discover along the way. I always find something new when I look at a map, but I also try to scope out the best route for the trip based on my car, the traffic, weather conditions, if I’m travelling alone or with others, and how much time I really have to get there.

I think of strategic planning in a similar way. It helps provide a road map of where you need to go and the best ways to get there. Like map-reading -- at least for me -- there are a lot of distractions that can take you off course, so you have to keep focused on your ultimate destination and the resources you have available to you.

Just like we know how to read maps, we are all familiar with organizational planning -- determining annual department goals, preparing for campaigns, or planning for vacations and events. How many of us really know that much about strategic planning, though? You may think it’s mainly something that big private companies deal with before they go public, or merely an expanded annual planning session held for your Board of Trustees. But true strategic planning can be worthwhile for groups of any size -- especially nonprofits and associations.

WHAT IS STRATEGIC PLANNING?

Strategic planning is just that -- planning that uses strategies to define your course of action. Unlike annual planning, which gets you to your regular goals each year, strategic planning charts out a path to your future vision. It may lead you just a little farther down the road you’re already on, or it may take you in a totally different direction in order for your group to become who you want to be in three to five years.

It’s also more than just long-range planning; it is a continuing process that directs you to what is truly important for your group, and allows you to respond to changes in your organization’s environment. In short, it’s a directed effort to “shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why it does it -- with a focus on the future.” (from Bryson’s Strategic Planning in Public and Nonprofit Organizations)

REASONS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING

So why does an organization need strategic planning? Here are just a few good reasons:

* Helps your group build on strengths and overcome weaknesses;
* Positions you for the future;
* Determines what resources you need to accomplish your goals;
* Forces you to commit to effective activities;
* Ensures a more focused approach.

WHAT DOES STRATEGIC PLANNING INVOLVE?

I’ll cover each of these more in future postings, but here’s a snapshot:

* Mission Statement
* Vision Statement
* Fact-finding
* Buy-in
* Retreat
* Follow-up
* Annual Reviews

I’ll also cover HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE PROCESS in more detail later on, including:

* Resources
* Timing
* Consultants
* Who to Include
* What Steps to Take

Everyone wants to feel they know where they are going and how to get there. A strategic plan can be your group’s roadmap. I hope you’ll continue to join me as we navigate this journey of discovery in strategic planning.

We’ll talk again soon. . .
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Focus On:

[In the spirit of being “501 Focused,” this blog highlights a nonprofit or association with each posting.]

Our nonprofit focus this time is on the Texas Nurses Association - District 5, a regional chapter of a state-wide membership-based association of registered nurses (TNA). They promote excellence in nursing at the district level through leadership, advocacy and innovation, and raise funding for programs and scholarships through an annual awards banquet that recognizes area nurses who have made a significant difference to patients, peers, and the community. This organization held a strategic planning session a few years ago, and it led to a revitalization of the board, the development of a new interactive Website, the creation of an expanded scholarship program, and a revamping of their annual banquet. As a result, the organization has been re-energized and can better serve its constituents.

Strategic planning helped this group find the path back to their vision, and they are stronger because of it. Find out more from their Website: http://www.tna5.org/.

Courage!

“I haven't any courage at all. I even scare myself.” - The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz

This post is all about Courage. In my last post, I said we’d talk more about Getting Focused, and I believe courage is a big part of that -- especially when it comes to strategic planning.

Wikipedia’s definition of courage is “the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation.” Those of us who work in the nonprofit arena see a lot of examples of courage -- from the individuals with the courage to leave abusive situations and seek help from a shelter to those who travel long distances to render aid when disasters strike. Strategic planning also takes a bit of courage, maybe not on that scale, but courage nonetheless.

For a group to take on strategic planning, it must be willing to look outside the norms of operation, to confront failures (and possibly risk new ones), to let go of successes if they take the organization off course from its mission, and to focus on an uncertain future. It takes courage to even step away from the every-day so you can dedicate enough time and resources to have meaningful planning sessions. For many of us, we need the courage merely to face change.

This is a major step above “annual planning” and takes much more focus and commitment. One thing I’ve discovered with courage is that it’s contagious. A courageous leader can pull you forward, as can the energy of your colleagues. Taking small steps yourself can inspire you to keep moving in that direction, too, and you can always learn from other groups. (See the “Focus On” section at the bottom of this post and links to the left for featured organizations that display courage each day.)

If you want to move forward with strategic planning, have courage -- the courage to embark on that journey with an open mind, the courage to set aside time to fully invest in the process, the courage to ask for help, and the courage to let go of the past and embrace the uncertainty of the future. Once you’ve got the courage, you can focus on the more concrete aspects of strategic planning, such as who should be involved in the process, how to conduct effective surveys, and what to include as part of a retreat. I’ll cover these issues more in upcoming posts.

I hope you’ll continue to join me on this excursion and find the musings of this blog valuable. We’ll talk again soon. . .
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Focus On:

[In the spirit of being “501 Focused,” this blog highlights a nonprofit or association with each posting.]

Our nonprofit focus this time is on Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a social outreach ministry for the homeless and indigent working poor. Their mission is “to provide food, clothing, and dignity to our brothers and sisters in need.” They accomplish this mission through the use of 12 catering trucks that go out onto the city streets of Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Providence, and Nashville every night of the week, thanks to the hard work of almost 10,000 volunteers and a single supply truck. They recently expanded their mission through Habitat on Wheels (HOW), which places homeless people into gently used recreational vehicles that have been fully furnished.

This group knows courage, and they’re using it to make a difference in the world. Find out more from their Website: http://www.mobileloavesandfishes.org/.

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Please let me know if there are any specific topics you’d like covered, and feel free to add your comments to the postings. If you need more in-depth help with strategic planning, contact me directly or check out my Website for more information on what 501(c)onsulting can offer you in that area.