Unlocking the Power of Strategic Planning with Liberating Structures
By Dr. Mark Smutny, President of Civic Reinventions, Inc.
Strategic planning, when done well, is a powerful tool for organizational success. Strategic planning doesn’t predict the future, it helps organizations plan for the future. It provides the roadmap for navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, and achieving mission success. As the President of Civic Reinventions, Inc., and as a professional facilitator, I have had the privilege of guiding countless nonprofits and organizations through this transformative process. Unlike traditional strategic planning that can seem like it takes forever, I use Liberating Structures, innovative meeting designs that help groups break free from stale routines, tap into their collective wisdom, and create dynamic, actionable plans.
Mission, Vision, and Values: The Foundation of Strategic Planning
A successful strategic plan begins with a clear and inspiring mission, vision, and values. These foundational elements define who you are, why you exist, and the principles that guide your work. Liberating Structures, such as “1-2-4-All,” encourage every voice to contribute to defining these statements, ensuring they resonate deeply with the organization’s heart and soul.
- Mission: What is your organization’s purpose? Who do you serve? What is the change you aim to create?
- Vision: What does success look like in five or ten years? How will the world be different because of your work?
- Values: What principles will guide your actions and decisions?
Engaging staff, board members, and stakeholders in these conversations fosters alignment and commitment from the start.
Strategic Priorities: Focusing on What Matters Most
Once mission, vision, and values are clarified, the next step is to identify strategic priorities—the big goals that will drive your organization forward. Here, Liberating Structures shine by inviting diverse perspectives to prioritize and refine these objectives. “25/10 Crowd Sourcing” is particularly effective, enabling groups to collaboratively rank ideas and identify high-impact goals.
Strategic priorities should:
- Align with your mission and vision.
- Be ambitious yet realistic.
- Reflect the input of key stakeholders.
- Address immediate needs while positioning the organization for future success.
Actionable Work Plans: Turning Goals into Reality
Strategic priorities are only as effective as the plans behind them. Actionable work plans break down broad goals into specific, measurable steps. Using Liberating Structures like “What, So What, Now What?” teams can assess their current situation, brainstorm solutions, and define clear next steps.
An effective work plan includes:
- Specific objectives: What exactly needs to be accomplished?
- Timelines: When will each step be completed?
- Resources: What people, finances, and tools are needed?
- Accountability: Who is responsible for each task?
Aligning Resources with Organizational Goals
A strategic plan is only as good as its execution. Aligning resources with goals ensures your organization has the capacity to achieve its ambitions. This includes allocating budgets, building staff capacity, and leveraging partnerships.
Liberating Structures such as “Ecocycle Planning” help organizations identify areas where resources are underutilized, overcommitted, or misaligned, creating space for innovation and growth.
Why Use Liberating Structures?
Liberating Structures transform strategic planning into an engaging, inclusive, and innovative process. By breaking down barriers to participation, they empower organizations to harness their collective intelligence. The result? Plans that are bold, actionable, and embraced by all.
Partner with Civic Reinventions, Inc.
At Civic Reinventions, Inc., we specialize in helping nonprofits thrive in an increasingly diverse world. If your organization is ready to embark on a strategic planning journey that leverages the power of Liberating Structures, we are here to help.
Contact Dr. Mark Smutny:
- Phone: 626-676-0287
- Email: mark.smutny@civicreinventions.com
- Website: www.civicreinventions.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marksmutny
Dr. Mark Smutny is the author of Thrive: The Facilitator’s Guide to Radically Inclusive Meetings, 2nd. With decades of experience leading nonprofits, he is passionate about fostering inclusion, engagement, and organizational excellence. Let’s build a future where your organization’s vision becomes reality.