Strategic Plan

A plan that is truly strategic

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A Truly Strategic Plan

A strategic plan is not an annual work-plan. Although, your work-plan should flow out of the strategic plan. Strategic plans have a longer time horizon, looking out into the future two, three, or even as many as five years to determine where you want to be and what you want to accomplish.

At the end of a successful strategic planning process, all involved should be able to say:

“We know what we want to accomplish together and how we are going to get there, and we have a framework for making choices.”

You are likely to make some tough decisions about what the organization should and should not be doing along the way. You will also develop multi-year strategies grounded in reality, responsive to your environment, and supported by your organization’s resources and unique strengths. Ultimately, your strategic plan should guide your annual action planning process, including the development of work-plans that include specific, measurable objectives linked to your budget and resources.

Why Strategic Planning Often Incites Fear & Loathing

Any fear board members feel about strategic planning is often related to what they experienced in the last strategic planning process – too long, too many meetings, and yielded little more than a plan that sits on a shelf. It should come as little surprise when board members say:

“We’ve got a lot on our plates right now. Let’s talk about that next year.”

Moreover, many organizations have a strategic plan in place and just aren’t following it:

“We finished the plan. Then, everything changed, and the assumptions upon which it was built are no longer valid.”

“It was a five-year plan, but we found that we accomplished a lot more than we expected in the first year, and we quickly discarded things that didn’t work, so we stopped referring to it.”

Our commitment is to help organizations put in place a process that results in the plan they need and will want to use without wearing out the planners along the way. In short, your strategic planning process should energize. Learn more.

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What Our Clients Say

The interviews that Starboard conducted with our partners and key funders proved to be an invaluable part of our strategic planning process, as was their expertise in helping to shape a plan that guides our work every day.

– Claire Berkowitz, Executive Director of the Maine Children’s Alliance

We're always pushing to take our organization to the next level, and Starboard has helped us reach new heights in our leadership and management, employee engagement, and talent management. My experience has been that Starboard works hard to add value in every way possible. As a result, I always hear positive feedback from employees following Starboard's engagements with us.

– Larry Barker, CEO of Machias Savings Bank

Scott helped me see through the fog to focus on the most pressing issues creating tension, challenges and structuring the organization for success in a new environment. My regular connections with Scott kept me on track, focusing on moving the needle’ on the items that required my attention.

– Aaron Dority, Executive Director Frenchman Bay Conservancy

Scott's style is direct, empathetic, and thought-provoking. He has provided critical knowledge, experience, and connections that have allowed us to build a stronger Board and take advantage of opportunities. Coach, cheerleader, and catalyst are three words I would use to describe his work with our organization.

– Cynthia Randall, Executive Director of Cornerstones of Science

We hired Starboard to lead us through our first ever, professionally led strategic planning process. We were at an important juncture in our growth and direction and had to make some really big decisions. We definitely hired the right firm to guide and support us! The Starboard team were great facilitators, professional, yet at the same time, down-to-earth. We couldn't have hired a better firm to work with us. The results have been fantastic!

– Ken Schmidt, Past President & CEO of Penobscot Community Health Care