STRATEGY DAY PLANNING FACILITATOR AND KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Strategy day planning should be at the top of your to-do list. In today’s fast-paced business world, it’s all too easy for organizations to get caught up in daily operations and lose sight of their long-term strategic vision. That’s why dedicated strategy day planning sessions, where leaders can step back and focus solely on strategic dialogue, have become indispensable.

That said, ensuring these valuable sessions are impactful requires careful planning and preparation. By taking a structured approach to your agenda and logistics, you can create an environment conducive to open discussion and breakthrough thinking.

Here are some tips for planning a productive retreat:

Define Objectives Upfront – Before any other strategy day planning, clearly define the key objectives and desired outcomes for the session. Is this kicking off a brand new multi-year strategic plan? Or is it an interim refresh of existing strategies? Having this level of clarity will shape the content and approach.

Identify Key Participants – Determine which leadership team members and subject matter experts need to be involved to achieve the stated objectives. Including the right voices is crucial for productive strategy discussions.

Choose the Right Setting – Opt for an off-site venue away from your regular workplace to minimize distractions. Consider locations that allow for ample meeting space as well as areas for breaks and dining. Creating a unique environment signals that this is dedicated strategic thinking time.

Design an Interactive Agenda – As pat of your strategy day planning, develop an agenda that combines presentations to align on foundational knowledge with plenty of time dedicated to open discussions, brainstorming, and working sessions. Build in variety by alternating individual work with small group and full group activities.

Assign Clear Roles – Identify a skilled facilitator to keep conversations focused and on track. Having a clear facilitator allows the leadership team to be active participants. If breaking into sub-groups, assign discussion leaders and notetakers.

Build in Breaks – While the agenda should be robust to maximize the time together, build in breaks to allow for creative thinking and reflection. Transitions between topics and energizing activities can help sustain engagement.

Establish Next Steps – Finalize strategy day planning by clarifying accountability, key takeaways, and immediate next steps to turn strategy into execution. Determine how work will be socialized and operationalized after the session.

Via investing ample time into upfront planning, you can design a strategy day that surfaces insightful perspectives, facilitates strategic dialogue, and sets a clear path forward for your organization.