Need to recalibrate priorities and think into the future, too? Consider a fresh approach to Strategic Planning.

Special event or a focused initiative launch? Look at Action Planning.

Neither of these fit your situation? I design custom planning services. Let's talk.

I have refined and flexed the highly participatory planning approaches I offer over 25 years so they can be comprehensive or streamlined to fit unique needs and situations. Comprehensive means the strategic plan encompasses and integrates all aspects of the organization's or enterprise's functions. Streamlined means we combine a mix of plan components that match what you need. 

I deliver planning services in person and virtually, offering a modular approach that fits your group's schedule. For example, a typical comprehensive in-person strategic plan offsite involves 2 to 2-1/2 days of concentrated time; for a virtual comprehensive strategic plan, you may need 6-7 sessions at about 3 hours each, over a two-week period. If you are launching a single-focused, time-sensitive initiative, one 5-hour in-person session will fit the bill or, if virtual, 1-3 two-hour Action Plan sessions over 1 or 2 consecutive days. The planning design and schedule is developed in direct response to your desired outcomes.

The modular approach also means some modules can be delivered as "stand alone" sessions, e.g., Practical Vision, Actions Brainstorm, and Crafting or Updating a Mission Statement.

Vital Clarity Commitments

1)  Draw out, align, and honor a wide range of ideas & perspectives throughout all planning sessions
​2) Build authentic consensus, time efficiently, on a level playing field
3) Maintain a neutral facilitation stance to ensure the plan content reflects your team's best thinking.

Virtual services apply easy-to-use technology platforms seamlessly.​

Participatory Strategic Planning Process Overview

Discovery (not depicted in the graphic):
• What do you need a strategic plan to do for you?
• Learn what your stakeholders think and want
• Recap recent accomplishments & your current situation
• What are national trends in your professional field or industry?

Design Meeting determines priority purposes for developing a plan.
• Selected representatives participate in a focused conversation to articulate key topics to be addressed by the plan
• Participant list takes shape, including those who stand to be affected by the plan
• Decisions about pre-work or relevant documents to be circulated are made, along with other logistics

All planning sessions build, sequentially, on each previous session for an integrated, cohesive plan.

Planning Phases - approx. 2.5-3 hours per session
• Inventory of National Trends - Capture emerging & established national trends specific to your industry
• Practical Vision for 3-5 years into the future - Describe the new reality you want to see in place 3 years out
• Underlying Contradictions - Articulate existing patterns, blind spots and mindsets that block effective action
• Strategic Directions - Generate a wide scope of action ideas & organize them into 3-4 Strategic Directions
• Project Implementation Calendar - Strategic Directions teams hone in on specific projects to implement for the first year

Implementation Phase
• Orientation to Team Member & Plan Coordination Roles
• Meeting schedules established and shared
• Teams outline all steps & considerations  to accomplish 1st quarter projects
• Facilitation Training for Plan Coordinator(s) and Team Leads
• Schedule Quarterly Progress Meetings with whole planning team as well as the 1st Annual Plan Update Session