Even though our New Years started off with our Junior Hockey team losing out on the opportunity to win their seventh consecutive Gold Medal, it was an inspiring game to watch (and their second place finish to the USA). The good news of course is that our Vancouver Canucks Hockey Team is on a winning streak; and of course our Olympics are going to start in less than 40 days (with even more hockey!).
I wanted to thank many of you who’ve ordered our Toolkits (“Strategic Planning” and “Starting A School”) from our secure Online Store. Last year it was a 50/50 split between the two Toolkits. What pleases me is that over the three years that I’ve had them available online, I’ve only had one return. Those who’ve invested in the Toolkits have praised them for their practical use and application to their needs.
Many of you recognize the value that a strategic plan can have for your school or non-profit, and contact our firm about how to develop a plan for your organization. You realize that your community continues to shift and forces are impacting your school, your students, and staff, and you need a practical plan that can maximize your school’s strengths, foresee your threats, reduce your weaknesses, and take advantage of future opportunities.
A well developed strategic plan can steer your school through challenging times. Our planning approach results in the development of strategies that energize your community, which they will buy into, and can be implemented right away with action plans to support school improvement.
BENEFITS OF A STRATEGIC PLAN
The time devoted to the planning process varies from organization to organization and depends on the resources available to devote to the process. Whether you decide to devote only a two-day retreat to the process or engage in a twelve-month process, your organization will begin to realize the benefits from the start.
Some of the fundamental benefits to the planning process and the development of the final plan include:
- Articulates a uniform, shared Mission and Purpose: When the underlying mission of the organization, its basic purpose, is brought into question. Any thought of changing the basic mission of an organization unquestionably calls for strategic planning.
- Organizational Uncertainties and Crisis Management: Non-profit organizations often have to deal with changing circumstances around them and make adjustments less critical than a fundamental mission change. Although the purpose may stay the same, the environment is changing, calling for modifications in how the organization does things to achieve the mission.
- Creates a Framework and Direction that Guides Decision Making: Boards, CEO’s, and staff need a comprehensive and understandable basis for day-to-day decision making and yearly operational plans/budgets. Decisions in governance and management are more reliable when made deliberately, with full examination of possible future consequences, within the framework of a set of priorities, in accordance with the organization’s levels of authority, boundaries, and channels.
- Foundation for Fundraising: A successful fundraising program rests on both a realistic determination of funding needs and a persuasive statement of why people should contribute financial support. Strategic planning is requisite, especially for organizations that are embarking on a major capital campaign for bricks and mortar or endowments. Comprehensive planning is one of the key marks of readiness to undertake the commitment that such campaigns require – major donors are expecting and looking for this.
- Allocates Resources-to-Opportunities: All organizations must shepherd their resources and constantly be vigilant in expending their income and assigning their personnel. Board members have a fiduciary role in financial responsibility. Strategic planning enables boards to enact logical resource allocation over longer periods of several budget cycles, and yearly strategic financial plans. This in turn creates a level of trust in their community, since the board is transparent in where the organization’s resources are invested.
- Tool to Monitor Performance and Achievement: Criteria against which to measure and evaluate how well an organization and/or individuals are doing are established through strategic planning. There is no way to tell whether an organization is achieving its purposes unless somewhere those purposes are clearly stated and measured.
- Organizational Effectiveness and Commitment: Non-profits function as a team boards, executives, and staff. The process of planning puts a spotlight on team effectiveness. Particularly revealing is the focus it puts on board leadership; measuring board commitment and fulfillment, and belief in the mission (not just today’s problems), board support and oversight of staff; and any micromanagement or blurring of boundaries or channels. Planning can strengthen the organizations fabric, becoming the adhesive of an emerging team effort.
I’ve included below some additional information to help you determine what to do next with your current and future planning process:
1). General overview of our planning process and testimonials
2). Strategic planning options
3). HEG’s 8-Step Strategic Planning Process
3). How to invest in our Strategic Planning Toolkit
NEXT STEP
If you would like to find out more about our Strategic Planning consulting services, or learn more about how we can help provide your organization helpful solutions, please email HEG at info@halladayeducationgroup.com or call directly at 604-868-002 to discuss your situation in more detail.
To Your success
Doug Halladay
President
Halladay Education Group
P: 604.868.0002 / F: 868.472.8737 / Email: info@halladayeducationgroup.com
www.HalladayEducationGroup.com
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P.S. Don’t forget to go to our secure Online Store to invest in our Strategic Planning or School Start-Up Toolkits.
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