In my experience, there is nothing that people in the non-profit world hate more than strategic planning. By and large we tend to be a group of "doers" driven to right wrongs and fight against suffering that we encounter every day. As such, almost any time away from our jobs, which in many instances quite literally involves matters of life and death, is seen as a waste. Accordingly, from that perspective, taking time to "plan to plan" may seem like an unconscionable waste of time; however, I would argue that nothing could be further than the truth.
I believe this feeling can be avoided by taking time to plan for the planning process. Instead of putting off the planning process, non-profits should carefully consider all elements of the process beforehand. In this way, you can determine how long the process will last, how intense the focus will be and the participants involved. Making these preparations beforehand will lead to a more efficient and productive planning process.
I also believe that a part of this "planning to plan" should encompass time to celebrate when all of the strategic objectives have been met. In this way, the organization will not only operate more effectively, the commitment of its participants will be frequently renewed when they see the path they have traveled and what lies before them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment