What’s the point of a strategic plan if it just sits on a shelf

A strategic plan is not a document for the Leadership Team to create at their fancy offsite retreat then email out to staff. 

Spending a day or two drafting a “plan” during a few working sessions, then sending it out to staff and hoping it will drive change is tone deaf. Inevitably, that plan will end up collecting dust—irrelevant to the real, day-to-day decisions shaping the organization.

The truth is, effective strategic planning requires a significant investment of time, resources, and deep reflection. It’s not just about filling in a template. It’s about uncovering the insights capable of guiding your organization’s future.

When done well, the process is both an art and a science. Yes, there are standard components—vision, mission, goals—but the approach must be tailored to your organization’s history, context, and aspirations. What worked for one group may not work for yours.

The most useful and influential plans are rooted in:

• Research to understand the context shaping your work.

• Authentic stakeholder engagement so the plan reflects the voices of those you serve and those who serve alongside you.

• Honest reflection and critical evaluation of your current operations and capabilities—what’s working, what’s not, and how your organization needs to evolve in its next phase.

If you want your strategic plan to serve as more than a glossy report, you have to design it as a decision-making tool—a relevant guide that informs what you say “yes” to and, more importantly, what you say “no” to.

To get that, leaders have to commit to the process, wrestle with hard questions, and align on clear priorities. It’s neither easy nor quick work. But without intentionality, the “plan” won’t shape the future. It will simply be a snapshot of leadership's current thinking.

Strategic planning done right can focus your energy, align your team, and position your organization to act with clarity and confidence. Done poorly, it's a missed opportunity and a wasted investment.

So before you embark on your next planning process, ask yourself: Are we ready to commit the time, resources, and reflection this truly deserves?

I work with entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders to design thoughtful, actionable strategic plans that don’t sit on shelves—they drive decisions. If you’re considering a planning process and want a partner to help guide it, I’d love to connect.