Successful organizations understand the importance of having a clear sense of their mission, vision and guiding principles to keep them on course. Without them, a company can find itself adrift in a sea of mediocrity. The mission, vision and guiding principles serve as the foundation of a plan that can enable a company to weather any storm and prosper. In fact, successful organizations understand that where there is turbulence there are opportunities.

According to Humphrey Institute planning expert John Bryson, seizing these opportunities requires a threefold response from organizations:

1. They must think and plan strategically as never before
2. They must translate their insights into effective strategies.
3. They must develop a strong rationale and lay the necessary groundwork for the adoption and implementation of those strategies.

To assist organizations in successfully responding to the challenge, The Covenant Group will facilitate a ten-step strategic planning process:

1. Conducting an internal assessment/situation analysis
2. Scanning the environment and identifying critical issues.
3. Organizing a core planning committee.
4. Facilitating a team-building planning retreat.
5. Developing and/or clarifying the organization's mission, vision, goals and values / stakeholder communication.
6. Communicating with stakeholders / follow-up sessions with staff.
7. Generating alternatives and developing strategies / Planning Steering Committee sessions.
8. Writing the report with recommendations, finalizing the plan and achieving consensus.
9. Developing systems for accountability and implementation.
10. Reviewing progress and making necessary adjustments.

	Case Study: Tekno, Incorporated By Leonard Moisan "We made the Inc. 500 list of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies three years in a row in the mid 1990's... Things that kill profitability can arise in a company growing that fast, and we realized we needed to make a few changes." -Trevor Clopton, Chief Operating Officer >| Download this...