"However beautiful the strategy,
you should occasionally look at the results."
~ Winston Churchill
Greetings!
Since it is nearing the end of the fiscal year for many of my clients, we are conducing strategic review and planning sessions in preparation for 2020. Typical deliverables for these one-day sessions include: 

  • Celebrate our successes and understand our challenges in accomplishing this year's objectives to use these learnings in planning for the future.
  • Given those learnings, and with a view to the broader organization and the external environment, reach agreement on our highest priority areas for the coming fiscal year.
  • For each priority area, determine what success looks like on 12/31/20 and how we will measure it.
  • Develop an action plan with clear milestones, due dates, and accountabilities.

To ensure your one-day session is as productive and engaging as possible so that you maximize the ROI of everyone's time, I recommend you keep these 3 key points in mind:

  • Preparation. In advance of the session, determine and share the key session deliverables, the agenda, and what is expected of the participants so they will fully prepare and bring their best thinking to the session.
  • Facilitation. Engage an experienced facilitator so that you can fully participate in the session. If you have a vested interest in the outcomes, it is very difficult for you to be neutral. A professional facilitator can provide advice and counsel in the design of the session and ensure that you get everyone's best input and achieve your session deliverables.
  • Accountability. The first 30 days after this session is most critical. If the team leader doesn't maintain focus and hold people accountable for their commitments, then you will surely lose the momentum for change as "the tyranny of the urgent" takes over. Keep the commitments visible through your staff meetings and your one-on-ones.

Click here for a sample agenda or read on for an overview of the engaging and effective strategic review and planning process I have customized and facilitated for my clients for over 10 years.
“Strategic Review and Planning Session"
 
Participant Preparation:
Please think about and come prepared to share your thoughts on...
  • 1-2 team successes you are especially proud of.
  • 1-2 areas/initiatives that have not been as successful.
  • Lessons learned from both that can inform our planning for the coming fiscal year.
  • Your preliminary ideas for priority areas and strategic initiatives for 2020. 

Key Agenda Elements:
  • Learn from our successes and opportunity areas.
  • Identify highest priority areas for 2020 and what success looks like on for each.
  • Determine objectives and key strategic initiatives.
  • Develop one-year action plan with major milestones, due dates, and accountabilities.
  • Reach agreement on how to monitor progress and course correct.

Let Kimberly Douglas put her 20+ years of strategic planning expertise to work for you and your organization.
Kimberly Douglas, FireFly Facilitation Inc. CEO, has an 88% repeat and referral business. She has collaborated with hundreds of leaders at organizations such as Coca-Cola, Home Depot, the CDC, Cox, AT&T and even the U.S. Marine Corps – to dramatically improve their business performance.

She holds a Master’s in industrial/organizational psychology, as well as multiple certifications, including SHRM-Senior Certified Professional and IAF Certified Professional Facilitator. She was honored with the SHRM-Atlanta Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the Chapter and the HR profession.

Prior to founding FireFly over twenty years ago, Kimberly was an organization effectiveness leader for Coca-Cola and the Director of Consulting for the Hay Group. She also served in HR leadership roles in the hospitality, telecommunications and healthcare industries. 

Want to learn more about how to ensure you are getting everyone's best thinking as you develop your 2020 strategic plan? Click the link below for Chapter 9 from her book, The Firefly Effect (Wiley) or visit her strategic planning blog page by clicking here .
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