It’s a good day. You, your team and board just made the decision to develop a much-needed strategic plan for your nonprofit. It’s time to jump in and get started … or is it?
When funds are limited you might be tempted to go it alone and handle your organization’s strategic planning process internally. After all, you know your organization better than anyone right? Well, maybe. The best person to lead your organization’s strategic planning process, though, is someone who doesn’t know your organization as intimately as you do.
Before you search for an outside facilitator, consider what to look for. Here are six critical qualities of a skilled strategic planning facilitator:
1. They Offer Fresh Insight and an Outside Perspective
One of the best words to describe a good facilitator is “unbiased.” While it is helpful for your outside facilitator to know how nonprofits work and what your nonprofit is all about, they will bring fresh insight and an outside perspective to your organization’s plan.
2. They Engage Everyone
A skilled facilitator is able to get everyone to participate — even Negative Nancy and the shy but insightful bookkeeper who usually keeps opinions to herself.
3. They Keep the Process On Track
An experienced outside facilitator will set the right tone for your strategic planning process and keep things on track. Specifically, they are able to maintain order in meetings that sometimes get heated. They can help prevent issues from getting personal and deal with any conflict that arises.
4. They Challenge the Status Quo
A seasoned facilitator encourages your team to abandon the mindset of “that’s how we’ve always done things so that’s how we’ll keep doing them.” Skilled facilitators know when – and how – to be brutally honest with your organization’s leaders. They are able to have difficult conversations that help your organization move forward in accomplishing its mission.
5. They Are Enthusiastic
A passionate and enthusiastic facilitator will get better results for your nonprofit’s strategic planning process. Period.
6. They Have Proven Facilitation Experience
While strategic planning often conjures up a touchy-feely process, it’s important that your facilitator is experienced in using tried-and-true facilitation techniques and strategic planning models. Professional facilitators are far more than note takers, documenters and agenda followers. They are five-star listeners who understand group dynamics and nuances. They know when to step back and let conversations take place in a free-flow fashion, and when to step in and change direction.
The Cost of Not Hiring an Outside Facilitator
While having a staff member facilitate your nonprofit’s strategic planning process can save some up-front costs, ask yourself the cost of not hiring an outside facilitator. For example, if a member of your team is tasked with heading up the process, that staff member will spend significant time preparing for meetings, documenting decisions, debriefing participants, reporting back to management and writing the strategic plan. These time consuming duties – which he may or may not be equipped to handle – will take your staff member away from his critical job at the nonprofit. And, most importantly, as we already discussed, a professional outside facilitator can help you develop a sound strategic plan that’s based on fresh ideas and a tried and true process.
Need Help?
If you’re ready to get started with your nonprofit’s strategic planning process, schedule time to speak with an experienced strategic planning facilitator or call 800.899.4623.
