By, Karen Lundquist, Association Manager, Impact AMC
These past few years have been full of events that were definitely not on my bingo card. If I had to guess, they probably weren’t accounted for in your planning, either.
When you created your strategic plan, you and your fellow board members likely took time to assess the environment, plan your next steps, develop your direction, and prioritize your resources. Your strategic plan was thoughtful and inspiring, and you started to see results.
Today, it’s all changing. The environment might look dramatically different and tried-and-true tactics may not pack their old punch, even if your planning session was just a few months ago. Take a few minutes to review the following questions and see whether your strategic plan is standing the test of time.
Does your strategic plan have outdated assumptions?
The starting point for most strategic plans is SWOT, PESTEL, focused research, or another environmental analysis. These types of analyses capture a snapshot of the current environment to make educated predictions about the future. However, significant changes to that environment mean those predictions could be outdated.
Take time to review the data you used and check for updates. That information may be internal to the organization or be discoverable through an online resource. Consider talking to your own experts. Board, staff, and key members can offer insight into whether your analysis is still accurate.
Is there flexibility and agility built into your strategic direction?
Strategic plans are a snapshot of your organization, and your plan represents your best thinking. However, current events have had unexpected impacts on many industries and association members’ lives. Is your strategic plan adapting to those changes?
Imagine your strategy was to increase membership by increasing value. You added a platinum membership – and after 6 months, you aren’t seeing an uptick in membership. Will your plan accommodate a shift in your direction?
If your answer is “I’m not sure,” you are in good company. Organizations large and small are exploring new ways to adjust and stay resilient. It could be as simple as a board meeting focused on whether your strategic goals are still aligned and attainable. A tool called scenario planning is another great way to explore what might happen and to plan several options that can be called into service when needed.
Scenario planning identifies what could impact the organization and then maps out what actions would be important. You can then add those options to your plan to build in flexibility and nuance.
Has execution stalled due to environmental changes?
Execution is the yang to your plan’s yin. If one isn’t working, you need to review both.
If your execution is not building momentum – whether that is membership growth, diversification of funding streams, adding programs, or something else – take a moment to figure out why the strategy didn’t point you in the right direction.
This is where a tool like a PARETO analysis can be helpful. PARETO applies a structure review and data analysis to identify the deeper reasons or root causes for why your organizational efforts aren’t delivering the results you anticipated.
Your board then reprioritizes what is important and shares that guidance with the organization as the final key step. Making sure you, members, and staff are all aligned will bring strategy and tactics back together and build momentum.
Are your goals still relevant?
“Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers."— Anthony Robbins
It’s always the right time to ask if your goals and the strategy behind them are still relevant. If the answer is “no they are not,” this is the time to stop and revisit your strategy. Ask the difficult questions, but ask them with an eye to the future. The board embodies the direction of the organization. Use your board’s dedication to the organization’s mission to fuel your conversations and move your strategy forward.
Reviewing your strategic plan reminds you that you are part of a team that is focused on the health of the organization and the community you serve. And isn’t that at the heart of why you are here?
Get a fresh perspective and expert facilitation
This is also an ideal time to bring in an outsider. Fresh eyes, facilitation expertise, and insight into how other organizations are creatively responding to change can cast your conversation in new directions.
As a boutique association management company, Impact AMC keeps our fingers on the pulse of change, looking for best practices and unique opportunities. Impact AMC offers customized strategic planning services, which means you choose the steps that best complement your association’s process.