Having a good strategic plan is much like having a good map - it helps you get to where you want to go. More importantly, the strategic planning process helps organisations explore what success means to them and how they can best achieve it. This process provides the opportunity to consider why you exist and how you can make the most of external circumstances and key relationships to make a real difference. 

While strategic planning is one of the key duties of the management committee, it can sometimes feel like just another chore. Frequently, the whole strategic planning job gets delegated to the Centre's coordinator/manager, with the committee/board having little to no involvement. The process can often seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be like that. Strategic planning can, and should, be an exciting process. It is your opportunity to think big and to map your Centre's success. 

These two sessions will break down strategic planning into practical steps and provide the tools needed for organisations to undertake the process. At the end of this session participants with have a clear understanding of what strategic planning is, why it is important, and how to create a strategic plan that leverages strengths and is aligned with the organisation’s purpose.

This first of two workshops, based on our Strategic Planning Handbook, will cover: 

• What strategic planning is (and what it is not)
• How to effectively plan for the process 
• How to ensure that your stakeholders are involved (and why this is important)

NOTE: This session is about the strategic planning process - what it is and how to undertake it. Participants will then be able to implement the process and develop strategic plans for their own Centres.