Achieving Strategic Alignment in Nonprofits Through Liberating Structures
By Dr. Mark Smutny, President, Civic Reinventions, Inc.
Nonprofit organizations navigate complex environments where diverse stakeholders—including executive leadership, board members, frontline employees, funders, and community representatives—must work together toward a shared vision. Strategic alignment is critical for mission success, yet achieving it often proves elusive due to competing priorities, hierarchical barriers, and entrenched ways of thinking.
Liberating Structures offer a transformative approach to breaking these barriers by fostering inclusion, engagement, and clarity. These structured yet flexible facilitation techniques empower organizations to harness the collective wisdom of all stakeholders, unlocking innovative solutions while forging deep alignment.
The Liberating Structures Sequence for Strategic Alignment
- Impromptu Networking – Begin by setting the stage for open dialogue. This structure invites participants to share their perspectives with multiple peers in rapid rounds, ensuring immediate engagement and breaking down silos among different stakeholder groups.
- Nine Whys – Help stakeholders uncover the deeper motivations behind their work and commitment to the organization. By asking successive “why” questions, participants distill their values and core purpose, ensuring strategic decisions align with a shared mission.
- What, So What, Now What? – Apply this reflective framework to assess where the organization stands, what the key insights are, and how to move forward. This structure ensures all perspectives—whether from executive staff or community members—are acknowledged before decisions are made.
- Min Specs (Minimum Specifications) – Define the essential constraints and priorities that must guide decision-making. This liberating structure prevents distractions and ensures strategic initiatives stay focused on critical outcomes.
- Troika Consulting – Facilitate peer-to-peer coaching where small groups offer fresh perspectives on real challenges faced by the organization. This process provides actionable insights, especially for executive leadership and board members navigating governance complexities.
- Ecocycle Planning – Map out the organization’s initiatives across four phases: gestation, maturity, creative destruction, and renewal. This visual tool enables alignment by clarifying which programs need reinforcement and which require transformation.
- 1-2-4-All – Ensure broad input by enabling every stakeholder, from frontline employees to funders, to contribute to the strategic vision. This method progressively expands discussions, moving from individual reflection to small group exchanges and then to a full-room dialogue.
- Open Space Technology – Conclude with an inclusive forum where stakeholders identify topics they’re passionate about and self-organize into groups for deep discussions. This allows alignment to emerge organically, ensuring buy-in from all involved.
Steps to Engage Stakeholders at All Levels
- Pre-Engagement Communication – Clearly outline the purpose of strategic alignment efforts and emphasize inclusivity. Customize messaging to resonate with different groups, ensuring funders, local government officials, and employees feel valued.
- Structured Workshops – Host Liberating Structures sessions in a way that accommodates diverse schedules and accessibility needs. Tailor facilitation approaches for board retreats, executive strategy sessions, and community forums.
- Actionable Follow-Ups – Synthesize insights from the sessions into strategic documents that guide next steps. Share findings transparently to maintain momentum and reinforce stakeholder trust.
- Iterative Reflection & Adaptation – Embed periodic check-ins using Liberating Structures to reassess alignment. Organizations evolve, and so should their strategies—continuous engagement ensures sustained impact.
By integrating Liberating Structures into strategic alignment processes, nonprofits create dynamic environments where every voice matters, innovation thrives, and mission-driven results emerge.
When organizations commit to this inclusive and structured approach, they don’t just align strategy—they build resilient communities capable of driving lasting change.
Contact:
For assistance with your nonprofit including leadership coaching, conflict mediation and strategic planning contact Dr. Mark Smutny at mark.smutny@civicreinventions.com or call 626-676-0287.