Conduct Planning Session

Although it is tempting to start working on details immediately, take time at the outset of the meeting to clearly define your stakeholders, vision, mission, and goals. These decisions serve as an ongoing reference point as you move forward. Your group should also consider how and when you will measure the effectiveness of your efforts, in order to continually improve your methods as you pursue your goals. If your group doesn’t complete all the strategic planning tasks during this meeting, have the group agree on follow-up steps at the meeting’s conclusion.

The following areas should be addressed by the Strategic Planning Partners:

1. Verify and Finalize Stakeholders
2. Review Strategic Questions
3. Define Project Values
4. Create Vision Statement
5. Create Mission Statement
6. Brainstorm Possibilities and Assess Resources
7. Determine Strategic Goals
8. Establish Short- and Long-term Priorities and Outcome Measures
9. Assign responsibilities for Operational Decisions