POP everything! Strategic planning in 30 seconds or less
P.O.P. - Purpose, Outcome and Process - is one of the snappiest, most useful planning tools I know. And it's completely scalable - from planning a 10 minute phone call to organizing a campaign....
View ArticleStructured Decision-Making: Roadmap to Wise Choices?
As a facilitator, I’m always searching for new approaches to help groups plan strategically and make smart decisions. One approach I’m currently exploring is “structured decision-making”, or SDM...
View ArticleBriefing notes: Making Face-to-face meetings count with solid preparation
I just got off the phone with one of my coalition clients, as we committed to planning our next meeting together well in advance. There is nothing like well-organized face-to-face meetings for...
View ArticleFour Solutions for striking the media “brand balance” in coalitions
Sharing media profile is one of the most challenging issues many coalitions face. Here are solutions coalitions I've worked with have used to strike the balance between maintaining a strong internal...
View ArticleThe power of organizational vision
In 1961, US President John F. Kennedy challenged his nation to, literally, reach for the moon. Like all great leaders, Kennedy understood that an effective vision will unleash a level of power,...
View Article5 Qualities of a great organizational vision
Quick: think of an organization or business you know and love. Maybe it’s one you actually work or volunteer at. What’s their vision for success? In other words, what’s the specific statement or...
View Article4-Part framework for a powerful organizational vision
Way back in September 1996, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras wrote a seminal article in HBR about successful organizational visions, and followed that with the now-classic book, Built to Last. Their ideas...
View ArticleCase study: A compelling narrative vision for Zingerman’s Farmer’s Market
In my last post I described Collins and Porras’ 4-part model for an effective vision. One component is a vivid narrative description. I’ve seen relatively few organizations create this, particularly in...
View ArticleTypical Not-For-Profit Vision Statements
As I continue this series of posts on organizational visions, I want to acknowledge right now that most organizations, particularly in the not-for-profit sector, don’t use a narrative-focused approach...
View Article14 Questions to ask when facilitating an organizational vision
Last month a good friend called me up in a bit of a panic. “I’m chairing another citizen’s meeting next week”, she said, “but I’m afraid it’s going to go like all the others: we’re going to generate a...
View ArticleFacilitating an organizational vision: The Hot Pen Technique
Successful organizations have long known about the power unleashed across a team when people are galvanized around an effective vision. There are dozens of approaches to facilitating an organizational...
View ArticleFacilitating an organizational vision: Collage
Sometimes words are not enough. Creative approaches such as collage can be incredibly powerful for developing compelling visions – starting with images. The words can follow. Leadership coach and...
View ArticleFacilitating an organizational vision: Guided Visualizations
Many visioning processes begin with a guided visualization, where participants close their eyes and listen as they are guided by a facilitator through a series of images and questions. The key is to...
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