Comments on: The Ultimate Guide To Nonprofit Strategic Planning Board Retreats https://bloomerang.co/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-nonprofit-strategic-planning-board-retreats/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:58:19 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: Gary MacDonald https://bloomerang.co/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-nonprofit-strategic-planning-board-retreats/#comment-192006 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 12:23:00 +0000 https://bloomerang.co/?p=31001#comment-192006 Linda, you have hit the nail on the head in so many areas that are non-negotiable in the a strategic planning retreat.
I led had 34 years of leadership experience in that field as an Executive Director and now help facilitate ED’s and Boards in that process as a consultant.
If i may suggest an alternative to a SWOT process, I have found great success in the SOAR process. The SOAR process (Stavros, Cooperrider, & Kelley, 2003; Stavros & Hinrichs, 2011) provides an alternative to the SWOT process. Based on an appreciative inquiry (AI) approach to strategic planning, the SOAR framework provides an effective guide for conversations related to identifying and leveraging the key strengths and opportunities.
There are two critical advantages with the SOAR.
1. The energy is much higher because the starting point begins with a question. “What are the root causes of our success?”
2. That question is answered through a narrative approach at a systems and personal level. Everyone is engaged right away.

Just some thoughts. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: John warren https://bloomerang.co/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-nonprofit-strategic-planning-board-retreats/#comment-190775 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:59:13 +0000 https://bloomerang.co/?p=31001#comment-190775 The most valuable outcome of any retreat is relationship building: board member to board member; staff to board member: executive leadership to board leadership. The opportunity to “get to know each other” is invaluable.

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