Inspired Strategic Planning

“Strategic planning should leverage collective intelligence to position your firm for success.” - Jane Walton

Effective strategic planning isn’t simply about prioritizing goals for the next few years, it should include a careful review of the following;

• Taking stock on where your firm has been and the lessons learned that will inform your future focus and strategies.

• Assessing your industry - market trends and conditions - to anticipate movement and strategically position your firm for success.

• Surfacing ideas from the organization at large. Uncover what people are seeing, hearing, and experiencing to best position your firm in the industry and against competition?

• Ensuring firm leadership is in agreement with the future direction of the organization. Identify and vet aspirations, ideas, and concerns. Come to agreement on a focus that blends ideas and information into a dynamic and aspirational plan.

“I was a little skeptical of “strategic planning consultants” and you’ve made me feel completely the opposite – don’t know how we’d have gotten to this point without you.” - R.C. Managing Principal

We are leading the way to a more inspired way of planning for your firm’s future. Give us a call, we’d love to discuss our process with you!

How Can You Interpret Your Art Form Into An Artful Business?

I remember the moment I walked through their doors - I felt both at peace and energized. The light and space felt peaceful. The unexpected placement of things was energizing.

It was at an industry event that I mostly attended so I could learn more about the hosting firm. I had experienced one of their projects, a beautiful house that was simply magnificent. Both peaceful and energizing - go figure. Their attention to detail is palpable. They had me at ‘come in’.

Within weeks the firm became a new client. We were sympatico.

I am planning an offsite session with them. As an introduction, I want them to understand the following:

1. Your work is pure sensory delight that has left an imprint on my mind and soul. When I experience your work I understand that you are…

Intentional.
Deliberative.
Mindful.
Judicious.
and, innovative.

2. Here is my challenge to you…

• How can you translate your design methods and principles into operating your business - interacting as a team - working with clients - collaborating with business partners?

• What would it look like? What would it sound like? What would it feel like?

• How can you interpret your art form into an artful business?

What Are Your Firm’s Aspirations?

What legacy do you want to leave your industry - your employees - your clients - your community - the world?

Today more than ever, the world needs organizations to step out of their comfort zone and introduce bold ideas and sound solutions to make necessary and sustainable improvements. 

Many firms I talk to know where they want to make a difference, they just don’t know how to do it. Instead fall back into their normal operations. Spending their days reacting to pressing issues. Often, mistaking activity for progress.

• It takes razor sharp focus to reach your business aspirations. 

• It takes guts. 

• It takes substantial investments - planning, development, time, energy & resources.  

• It takes putting your company on the line by embracing the unknown where failures are certain before ultimate success.

We are here to guide you along the way. We’ll offer a fresh perspective, tools, expertise, and the desire to make you shine and grow.

Here’s how we do it; 

1. Ensure your plan is strategic, aspirational, inspirational - and pragmatic. 

2. Ensure leaders are in agreement with the future direction of your organization - and clear roles and responsibilities have been established.

3. Ensure everyone in your organization understands your strategic direction - and where their time and energy should be placed to support success. 

4. Create a rhythm of reflection, ideation, and adaptation to ensure success. 

5. Keep you on track through regular meetings and planning sessions. 

As one of our clients recently told us, “I was a little skeptical of “strategic planning consultants”, but you’ve made me feel completely the opposite. I don’t know how we’d have gotten to this point without you.”   - RC Managing Principal

Call us today and let’s get started!

Here’s What I Believe the Primary Role of a Leader Is

It isn’t strategic, visionary, futuristic or something shiny and new - that’s not what your team needs from you the most. The number one thing leaders should be focused on is removing obstacles and barriers for their team - burrs in their saddle, if you will. So they can get on with their work as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Their work and life is stressful enough - doing their job well, showing up mentally and physically, collaborating with others, dealing with clients, producing exceptional work. They don’t need additional stressors.

Unresolved issues, unanswered questions, and reactive workplace management is like a mosquito in the room - buzzing around causing mounting aggravation and an unwanted distraction.

Make a decision. Get answers. Address issues. Get organized and on top of things. And for the love of god - address the elephant in the room.

That is what your team is looking for you to do.

WE MUST FEEL CONNECTED TO A COMPANY TO DO OUR BEST WORK.

Little did I know when I was writing WORK IS ART that a ‘GREAT RESIGNATION' was forming and building momentum - leaving companies scrambling to strengthen their weak points.

Little did I know that the organization principles introduced in the book, which focus on bringing people together in profound ways, would be so timely! When, in fact, they are so timeless.

We are wired to connect. We crave it. We rejoice in it. And when we don’t have it, we move on...if we have the gumption (which many are finding they do today).

Future business success will require a new way of thinking. A better way of behaving. A deeper way of connecting. A razor sharp focus that everyone can connect with and get behind to do their best work.

Connection takes a beautiful design - a thoughtful approach - and the momentum of a team to achieve personal and business success.

People Expect More From Companies

Today, people expect more from their company. This takes a new way of thinking.
- Synergy, not co-dependency
- Educate all, not just a few
- Include more, exclude less

Stop operating 'business as usual'.

Jane Walton’s book WORK IS ART presents a fresh new approach to bringing collaboration, innovation, and focus into your workplace. Using the fundamentals of art as a model, author Jane Walton explores the common factors that can overwhelm an organization and create confusion and fatigue. And offers solutions to create focus and a sense of purpose among employees. The result? A new perspective on your company that delivers business brilliance and secures a lifetime of loyalty.

3 Mistakes of Planning Sessions

The three biggest mistakes in planning sessions are…
1. report out focus
2. jam packed schedule
3. expecting a formal plan at the end

We think planning sessions should be 80% inspiration and 20% presentation. We think a room full of minds equates to a world full of possibilities.

We think concentrated time together should be leveraged to access the knowledge, skills and experience in the room to evolve your business.
We have fresh ideas on how to organize your next planning session. We are happy to facilitate the process.

If You Are Bored, Move On...

If you are bored, move on. If you feel stuck, explore why. If you are challenged, embrace the experience. If you want stability, don’t apologize.
I’ve had over thirty different jobs in my lifetime. International tour guide, nature documentary editor, graphic designer, waitress, librarian, camp counselor, blueprint operator. My life has been rich with experiences.

Don’t fret. Don’t panic. Feel. Notice. The Universe is in overdrive to support you.

Can We Please Stop Talking About Generations In The Workplace?

Can we please stop talking about generations in the workplace? It is divisive, distracting and all together boring!

A guy wrote a book twenty years ago that highlighted multiple generations in the workplace and it has done nothing but create stereotypes and disdain. I was recently forwarded a graphic that illustrated the different generations and it made me sick to my stomach.

- my mentor is 25 years younger than me.
- I know 10 year olds who have the same traits as boomers.
- I know 90 year olds who are hipper than I will ever be.

We are all a product of our times. I am just as addicted to my electronic devices as people half my age. I want just as much from companies as someone who just graduated from college - to be challenged, to be heard, to be embraced and respected. Let’s work together and concentrate on those things. I think that is a great place to start.

Black Licorice

Black licorice, that is the trick for staying awake in long off-site planning sessions. That is what the Chief Sales Officer told me during one of our notoriously jam packed planning retreats. We left the meeting with tight shoulders, black tongues and indigestion.

Here’s what most planning sessions look like: a queue of individuals lined up to report - slide after slide after slide - and when people are sufficiently brain dead an annual plan is constructed with ideas that are thrown out without much forethought - assigned to the busiest people in the room - and forgotten once the wheels touch down back home. Sound familiar?

• We believe a room full of minds equates to a world full of possibilities.

• We believe planning sessions should be 80% inspiration and 20% presentation. Brainstorming, sharing, debating, envisioning (i.e. deep, meaningful interaction).

“Companies don't have ideas; only people do. And what motivates people are the bonds and loyalty and trust they develop between each other. What matters is the mortar, not just the brick”. - Margaret Heffernan

We believe planning sessions should leverage the knowledge, skills and experiences in the room - the ‘mortar’ that will take your business to the next level.

If you are ready for something different, give us a call we are happy to plan, manage and facilitate your next off-site.