thoughtfully directs your organization for the next 3-5 years. Before undertaking a strategic planning process, the most important step is to make sure you’re ready. This process requires commitment and an investment in time. It’s been said that nearly 70% of strategic plans fail often because an organization jumped into the process before they were ready.

If you can answer “yes” to a majority of the following questions, that may indicate that your school is primed for strategic planning.

• Your leadership is ready to give this the necessary time and attention. You’ve had stable school and board leadership for the last two or three years. If you have a new leader, he/she is ready to explore the future of your school. In addition to your head of school and board president, you have a number of motivated people willing to be on the strategic planning committee.

• You have the time. A strong, thoughtful, and intentional strategic planning process could take upwards of 6-9 months to complete. This is an investment in the future of your school and not something that can be completed in a few hour-long meetings. Can you allow for the space for this to happen amongst other things going on in the school?
• You’re ready to visit the mission and vision of your school. Your school’s mission and vision is not set in stone. If yours has been in place for upwards of 10 plus years and you’ve yet to take a step back to evaluate whether or not this remains the best articulation of where you want your school to go in the future, strategic planning is an opportunity to do so.
• You want to hear from your constituents. Strategic planning is not something that happens solely behind a closed door in the boardroom. Is your school ready to engage with key stakeholders, listen to constructive feedback, and consider changes based on the feedback you receive?
• You need a boost. Your school is fine and you’re just “okay.” Maybe things have been stagnant, you’re not in crisis, but you acknowledge there’s potential here to do much more. Maybe you’re on the brink of a breakthrough and you need that push to get your school from good to great. Strategic planning can help lay that foundation.

Regardless of whether or not your school is ready for a full-blown strategic plan, everyone can benefit from thinking strategically. How can you do this?

• Open your eyes and ears: Observe and listen, really pay attention to what’s going on around you and in your school. Have a strong understanding of your environment, both within your school community and beyond. Be proactive in connecting with people and taking in unique perspectives and opinions.

• Ask questions: Too often we are quick to dismiss something as wrong or irrelevant. Questions are a core component to strategy. “Yes, and” questions can open doors you never thought imaginable. Be curious; take into consideration different points of view, approaches, possibilities, and potential outcomes. Never settle on the first answer without doing your due diligence and wondering if there’s something better out there.
• Convey a message of strategy: Good strategic thinkers do not only ‘think’ this way; they are able to articulate that message to others. Consider how your verbal and written communication comes across to your school. Can what you say or write help them better understand your strategic thinking? Think about how we shape and frame conversations and how we may invite others to challenge the status quo, shift perspective, and think strategically.
  

Warm Regards,

Traci