When it comes to strategic planning, The Meeting Institute understands that there is not one model that “fits all” – each of our clients has its own unique situation with distinctive needs. Whether we’re working with a small not-for-profit, an entrepreneurial start-up, or a Fortune 500 company we know that our clients have different market challenges that are exclusive to their industries. As facilitators, we work with our clients to determine their organizational needs and provide them with the tools they need to garner desired outcomes. Our goal is to assist our clients in determining the most efficient, effective and economical approach to producing and implementing a strategic plan with measurable results.
The Meeting Institute offers distinct strategic planning programs for this process:
- Creating Vision, Mission and Value Statements
- Doing an Environmental PEST Scan
- Completing a SWOT Analysis
- Setting Strategy, Goals and Objectives
- Implementing Action Planning and Monitoring Results
Vision, Mission and Values Statements
One of the most important steps in strategic planning is to create vision, mission and value statements. What makes a good vision? The Meeting Institute believes that a good vision is a detailed description of what the future success looks like and that it should be used as a planning tool and not as a marketing slogan or motivational tool. Our vision discussion shapes the strategic planning process as it starts with the end in mind. In an organization it is important for everyone to agree on what success looks like and then determine the best way to get there. The purpose of this step is to help the client develop a shared vision of success. To do this we use the paradigm shift question: “What is seemingly impossible to do today, that if achieved would significantly enhance your business?” Next, we facilitate a discussion to clearly define and/or refine the overall purpose of the organization via a mission statement and identify the major values and core competencies required for success.
Environmental PEST Scan
An organization’s strategy does not exist in a vacuum. It exists in an ever-changing world. If your team is on different pages as to the significance of the major trends in your market, then how can they be on the same page with respect to what your strategy should be? The purpose of the environmental PEST scan is to identify the major trends that will affect your future success in four external areas: Political (including national, international, state, municipal, and regulatory), Economic, Social, and Technological. The Meeting Institute facilitates brainstorming sessions to identify current and future trends to help clients achieve a clear consensus of top trends and external factors that affect a planning process. As a result of a PEST Scan an organization will be able to create a competitive edge.
SWOT Analysis
As outside facilitators, we “push” organizations’ group participants to be as specific as possible in describing their Strengths to build upon, Weaknesses to resolve, Opportunities to expand and Threats to avoid. If we have completed an environmental PEST scan we will extend the brainstorming to include ways to benefit from the major Political, Economic, Social, Technological and Competitive trends identified. We will also do the same if we have completed a customer segmentation to identify your most attractive and least attractive customers. Additionally, if we have completed a vision of success plan, we will re-visit it for further inspiration and future opportunities. Upon completing a SWOT Analysis, an organization will learn that there are far more issues and opportunities to pursue than an organization can realistically pursue. Through this process we assist our clients in completing a ranking exercise to determine “important” versus “urgent” priorities, thus identifying critical issues to be addressed in the strategic planning process.
Strategy, Goals and Objectives
Does your organization have vision, mission and values? Have critical issues been identified? If the answer is “yes” to these questions, now is the time to determine your organization’s goals and objectives and what strategies to create and implement to achieve results for those goals and objectives. The Meeting Institute works with organizations to facilitate strategies, goals, and objectives through a variety of ways including individual inspirations, group discussions and formal decision-making techniques. We help leaders come to an agreement on how to address the critical issues. This process can take considerable time and flexibility: discussions at this stage frequently will require additional information or a reevaluation of conclusions reached during the situation assessment. It is even possible that new insights will emerge which change the thrust of the mission statement. We facilitate organizations’ through this process to create the best possible plan.
Action Planning and Monitoring Results
At The Meeting Institute, we believe that action planning is “where the rubber hits the road.” In our approach you will walk away from this program with a well thought out action plan that clearly defines the organizations’ strategic goals, a timeline for achieving objectives, the resources needed and identify who will be accountable in the process. A frequent complaint about a strategic planning process is that it produces a document that ends up collecting dust on a shelf. The Meeting Institute will provide your organization with guidelines to ensure that the plan is implemented. In addition, we will work with you to establish milestones and an auditing process to monitor the progress of your plan.
Performance Management – Engaging Associates for Effective Results
Program Description
Getting the most out of your people is important, and one of the best ways of doing this is to have an effective performance appraisal process. We will develop the confidence and ability of your people as they use your organization’s existing appraisal system. If required, we can also help you develop a new appraisal system that meets your specific needs. In this results-focused workshop you will learn how to use tools such as the performance agreement, the relationship audit, skillful feedback (positive & negative), and caring confrontation to produce maximum performance results. This program also provides some helpful tips on how to involve employees in the process of goal-setting and several coaching questions to facilitate the process.
Program Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Use a group process to establish a positive work environment that invites giving and receiving feedback
- Involve all employees in setting positive expectations for tasks and work relationship behaviors
- Use a step-by-step process to help employees build positive habits
- Give performance feedback that motivates employees to want to improve
Integrate techniques from previous sessions to:
- Set performance goals
- Monitor and assess performance
- Redirect off-task behaviors and correct misbehaviors
- Use coaching techniques to give constructive feedback
- Help employees align productive behaviors with personal and professional goals, and with team/ department and organizational goals
