Strategic Planning Processes
Strategic Planning Processes
The gift of a seasoned facilitator is the ability to be strategic, intuitive and conscious when working with your group or organization. As a facilitator, Cora guides the process and creates the space to make it safe for you to deal with the issues at hand.
Cora Whittington is a “learn-a-holic”. She teaches facilitation, guides facilitation and is always learning and creating new and innovative processes. See the facilitation credentials tab for her specific accreditations and experience.
Strategic Planning
Cora guides you in developing a strategic plan that arises from the cause of the leader, captures the heart of the organization and draws on the special talents of participants.
Visioning
She uses creative ways to design a desired yet grounded future vision.
Values clarification – What are your core values?
Problem Solving
It is important to create the space, guidelines and process to help you solve problems, deal with conflict and do strategic planning.
Action Planning – Results are important and Cora guides you in developing an action plan that is focused on the strengths of people and balances a commitment to improving the present as well as innovating for the future.
In addition to generic facilitation techniques, three of our most effective processes are:
- Open Space Technology,
- Appreciative Inquiry and
- The World Cafe
Open Space Technology ~ What is it?
In Open Space meetings, events and organizations, participants create and manage their own agenda of parallel working sessions around a central theme of strategic importance, such as: What is the strategy, group, organization or community that all stakeholders can support and work together to create?
With groups of 5 to 1000 — working in one-day workshops, three-day conferences, or the regular weekly staff meeting — the common result is a powerful, effective connecting and strengthening of what’s already happening in the organization: planning and action, learning and doing, passion and responsibility, participation and performance.
When and Why?
Open Space works best when the work to be done is complex, the people and ideas involved are diverse, the passion for resolution (and potential for conflict) are high, and the time to get it done was yesterday. It has been called passion bounded by responsibility, the energy of a good coffee break, intentional self-organization, spirit at work, chaos and creativity, evolution in organization, and a simple, powerful way to get people and organizations moving — when and where it’s needed most.
And, while Open Space is known for its apparent lack of structure and welcoming of surprises, it turns out that the Open Space meeting or organization is actually very structured — but that structure is so perfectly fit to the people and the work at hand, that it goes unnoticed in its proper role of supporting (not blocking) best work. In fact, the stories and work plans woven in Open Space are generally more complex, more robust, and more durable — and can move a great deal faster than expert – or management-driven designs.
One of the reasons that I most appreciate opening space in organizations and groups is because of the ever evolving conscious perspective that occurs. When we discipline ourselves to be intentional about removing the toxins (barriers) and to nourishing the organization, magical things happen. Our role is to clear the clutter and so that you can work with the essence.
Appreciative Inquiry
Appreciative Inquiry engages the whole organization in discovering the best of what has been and dreaming about the best of what might be.
This is an excellent process to use when introducing a change. People feel much better about the future when they know that the best of the past is going forward with them.
The World Cafe
The World Cafe process is based on the knowing that the best ideas and solutions often are written on the back of a napkin in a cafe or restaurant. This process simulates this and help groups access the group wisdom and themes. More information can be found on the website:
Cora has used this process several times and is continuously amazed at the results and the side effect of building teams.
Do You Have Questions About Strategic Planning?
Cora would be happy to talk to you about your current situation, your goal and possibilities for your organization, business or team.
While she is from Peterborough, Ontario, Cora is happy to travel to your location or you may consider using her optimally designed meeting space ~ Golden Pathways Retreat and BB
Book an exploratory conversation here.
