Vision Planners :: Services :: Non-Profits

Phase Three: Implementation

Perhaps the MOST CRITICAL element in visioning and strategic planning is IMPLEMENTATION. To paraphrase Michel Robert, a good strategy with excellent implementation is always to be preferred over a world-class strategy left to its own devices. Our goal is to help you be brilliant on the implementation!

With this in mind, our goal each month will be to pay attention to what counts, to address any current challenges, opportunities or issues that need addressing and to take on some developmental issue. By doing these things well and consistently, you have every reason to expect good results!

The monthly agenda will unfold as follows:

Personal Review One Hour Weekly: This should be “sacred” time. Set aside one hour each week where you prayerfully and thoughtfully review your strategy and evaluate what has been accomplished in the previous week. Be sure to review your:

Plan, People & Processes
Top 5 Priorities
Roles (Those Significant Roles In Your Life As Father, Husband, Pastor, Boss, Friend, Citizen)
Dashboard Item

Monthly Personal Review Summary: Set aside an hour or so, preferably on the same day each the month. In addition to your regular weekly review, there are five other key things you will need to do in this session:

First, record your monthly numbers on your “Dashboard.”
Second, review your plan with "mid-year" questions in mind.
Third, fill in your “Dashboard” and email a copy of it to your consultant.
Fourth, prepare commentary on each “Dashboard” item to share with the group as you report at the Monthly Implementation review meeting.
Fifth, identify the primary issue/concern/challenge facing your organization today. We will discuss each person’s topic for “brainstorming” ideas.

The Monthly Implementation Review Meeting: We will meet the same day and time each month. Our focus will be on three areas and our goal will be to track our progress, share wisdom and to discuss a developmental topic. The session will unfold as follows:

First, we will spend 30 minutes reviewing the developmental topic for the month.
Second, in rotation, each person will introduce the primary issue they are currently facing. We will discuss the issue in the following order:
First, the person “on deck” will give us the facts surrounding the issue/ concern/challenge.
Second, we will go around the table and everyone can ask clarifying questions.
Finally, the group will give the person “on deck” input which the person is to receive without comment.
The person “on deck” is under no obligation to accept the advice offered, but if he/she does, they are obligated to share the results of their actions at the next meeting

Third, as with the “issues” discussion, each person, in rotation, will review his/her “Dashboard” for feedback and support. As mentioned above, each person should be prepared to offer commentary on the results experienced in the previous month.

“Mini” Jethro Team Meeting With Your Leadership Team: Any new skill improves with practice. In order to become more effective in leading your team to do well, we encourage you to hold a monthly “Mini” Jethro Team Meeting with your leaders no later than the week following your Jethro Team meeting. The benefits can be profound; you stay more focused, they become more focused and progress is more meaningfully measured. This presumes, of course, that you will do the work necessary to help each of your leaders identify his/her priorities and to establish measurable expectations.

We suggest you employ this strategy in full if you own a business. However, if you are a church or non-profit, and keeping in mind that your leadership team is probably volunteer, you may want to limit their accountability to simply reporting and you play the role of “recorder.” In this case, we recommend you limit this session to:

Reviewing the “Dashboard” for each person, and
Identify ONE issue from the group and follow the model to discuss it.