Are strategic plans really worth it?
Nonprofit leaders:
What if your colleague said: "We're going to start a strategic planning process!"
Does that statement make you excited, scared, stressed, or all of the above?
While the idea of strategic plan might feel overwhelming, I firmly believe the process is worth it—but only if it's a GREAT one! Not all plans are created equal, of course.
With 25+ years of strategy experience in different settings, I've found that a GOOD process fosters alignment between the board and senior leadership regarding the organization's focus. This focus could be growth, change, acquisition, or other moves.
A GREAT strategic plan journey achieves this alignment but goes even further by revealing organizational health and capacity issues, guiding everyone toward a unified approach to address them. It ultimately strengthens your mission, which attracts more donors and generates more charitable revenue.
Consider the cultural and organizational health challenges your organization faces today. If you have a strategic plan already, does it address any of these deeper issues, such as:
😰 Are we going to ignore succession planning indefinitely?
😡 Should professional development and internal promotions remain ad hoc and unpredictable?
🤡 Will we allow our teams to continue experiencing dysfunction and toxic behavior?
😞 Should we avoid establishing term limits or a board matrix for recruiting relevant and skilled voices?
If your nonprofit lacks the answers to underlying questions like these, and/or if you have no plan at all, now is the time to engage in a GREAT process!
With 13 years in for-profit business strategy, 10 years as executive director of a human services nonprofit, and 4 years leading teams through successful strategy engagements at Sarah J Consulting, I'm ready to help you prioritize the most crucial aspect of your strategic plan: organizational health.
I love this aspect of SJC's work because it can truly transform every aspect of a nonprofit organization.
Where does your org stand? If you have a strategic plan, would you classify it as inadequate, good, or great?
-Corey Jackson
