STEP 2 : BECOME A PARTICIPANT IN THE PROCESS
Once you ’ ve framed these questions and recruited these great people , you have the opportunity to step back and become a participant in the process rather than the driver . Leaders are usually tempted to step all over great ideas . You will step over great people and their valuable input if you are not careful because you have many of your own great ideas . This process enables you to step back and become a participant .
I suggest hosting a kickoff event inviting all of the participants in the planning . Hopefully , the kickoff event enables you or an outside presenter to present some of the significant challenges , ideas , and opportunities facing your ministry . The kickoff gets everyone thinking on the same page . Then , give them a fun opportunity to exercise the skill of working together in teams . All of this happens in a controlled environment . This gets everything started right to build momentum .
The teams now have their group of questions that you have provided them as a leader . They are grappling with these questions and crafting an example using their strategies , tactics , and goals . They are addressing how to measure progress in this area and how to move the organization forward on their assigned group of questions .
Each team should meet as many times as it takes to keep momentum , and then they have to come to a conclusion . Finally , they will present to you the strategies , goals , and tactics they have prepared for their area of focus as a team .
This is when things get very exciting as a leader and even for your board because now we have gathered all of these ideas based upon the questions you have asked . Some of the input is all over the place , but the closer you look , the more you realize there is a lot of alignment and consistency .
STEP 3 : CREATE THE FINAL PRODUCT
You will start seeing an overlap of these different teams , their thinking , and the other leaders involved while you become an editor to this process . Rather than limiting your ministry ’ s future to your own thinking , you have become an editor of the very best ideas . You can begin to frame this into a final product that you believe in , that you will stand behind , and that you will help bring resources and people to implement .
When you have your final product , you have something that can be held in your hand , implementation can be shaped around , future teams can be working on in an ongoing way , and you can use to hold people accountable to how they are moving your ministry forward .
Not only do you now have a final product , but you have implemented a process involving 50-100 amazing people who are all ready to be involved in implementing and moving your organization forward toward the plan . This is an incredibly powerful tool , and one of the best ways we know of to gain alignment across organizations .
You ’ ve now created a feeling of ownership , momentum , vibrancy , and accountability . You also have many people ready to invest time , energy , and resources into implementing this strategic plan . ■
CREATE YOUR STRATEGY STATEMENT
Download a one-page tool designed to provide you and others with ultimate clarity in answering the question , “ What is our organizational strategy ?”
developmentandleadership . org / strategy-statement-tool
Zach Clark is the founder of Development & Leadership Coaching , a non-traditional service approach helping leaders grow and build a culture of generosity . Beginning at twenty years of age , Zach ’ s expertise and skills were honed as a development and leadership consultant serving hundreds of Christian schools , churches , and nonprofit ministry organizations around the country . Zach has a dynamic and energetic teaching style that makes him a much sought-after public speaker . He is a member of the John Maxwell Team , the world ’ s leading leadership development organization , and is a John Maxwell Certified Coach , Trainer , and Speaker .
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