The more you prep for your
next strategic planning process the better your outcomes will be.
How often do you conduct a strategic planning session or retreat? How often do you review your strategic plan?
Every year, every other year or once every three years?
Whatever your timeline is, it's important that you do your homework prior to your next retreat.
Here's three
things you can do before your next planning session:
- Background materials
- Communicate the process
- Set the stage
Background Materials
Tell the story of your
chamber, where you’ve been, where you are now and that will set the stage for
where the chamber should go. Key items to share from a historical
perspective should include, but not limited to:
- Revenue - dues vs. non-dues
- Membership numbers - retention rates, etc.
- Program of work - advocacy, economic development, networking, educational programs, etc.
And don't forget to attach
real numbers to the above items. For a previous blog post on program based budgeting go HERE.
Communicate the Process
It's important to be
transparent in your strategic planning process. Get everybody on the same
page. When people know what is expected of them, they will deliver.
Key elements that should be communicated:
- Timing – set a timetable from beginning to end
- Outcomes – set the expectation of what you want when you’re done with the process
- Players - who's responsible and why
Set the Stage
I'm a fan of getting a
third party facilitator to run the actual strategic planning meeting. They can keep people focused on the task and it keeps the process
business like and not personal.
For a great resource on
nonprofit boards from The Bridgespan Group go HERE.
