Need help with strategic planning?

It's time to shape your future. Envision the next chapter. Prepare for what's to come. You need the CLARITY, FOCUS, and INSPIRATION a strategic plan can provide. 

We live in a time of complexity and uncertainty, and leaders can no longer only do strategic planning when they have the time or the money to bring in an outside facilitator. 

You must be responsive and adaptable. That means CONTEMPORARY STRATEGIC PLANNING approaches are now part of a leader's BASELINE skill set. We are NOT talking about generic strategic acumen. 

We are talking about PROCESS knowledge, skill, and expertise. 

🛑 STOP settling for inadequate planning meetings. 🛑 STOP relying on others when you can learn it yourself. 

✅ START taking control of the future you are creating. 

LEARN IT

So you can plan when and how you need.

The old way of planning DOESN'T FIT your style or your reality. Now, you have to plan more often and adapt your plans to unforeseen circumstances. 🛑 Stop depending on expensive outsiders to lead you through mechanical and rigid planning retreats. ✅ Instead, learn CONTEMPORARY STRATEGIC PLANNING.

DO IT

So you can get moving toward your future.

You need a strategic plan IN HAND, ready to execute. But you don't ONLY need it done - you need it done RIGHT so it doesn't sit on a shelf. Learn a reliable and effective approach to strategic planning, and practice by building a plan as you go. 🔥 You'll leave with a Strategic Action Plan that serves as a TOOL THAT YOU USE instead of a document you read.
What is a "Strategic Action Plan"? Learn more.

What you'll learn

As you build a Strategic Action Plan, you'll learn:

  • a RELIABLE and REPEATABLE process that allows you to MEET YOUR GOALS while operating amidst complexity

  • how to get the most from ALL FOUR phases of strategic planning

  • best practices for organizing PLANNING TEAMS

  • how to ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS so your staff, partners, and other key stakeholders are contributors to the process and the end result

  • a process to EVALUATE THE CURRENT STATE of your business, assess its READINESS for planning, and determine an appropriate planning SCOPE

  • how to create a vision and goals that can WITHSTAND uncertainty and change

  • how to ROLL OUT and EXECUTE a strategic plan, and how to ADAPT your plan when things change

  • how to make a TOOL THAT YOU USE instead of a document that you read

  • planning ADAPTATIONS for for-profit businesses, nonprofits, and public sector agencies

What people are saying

"Finally! A training that provides a framework for understanding how to do TRUE strategic planning effectively! We used to struggle with our 'planning' meetings but now we know what was missing and how to do it in a way that creates alignment, clarity, and action!"

"I hate to admit it, but our plans used to be long, over-written, overly detailed, and not very useful. My team needed a shared vision for our future and agreement about priorities. Our old approach just didn't work. Now, we understand what was missing and how to create strategic action! It's exciting to see the progress we're making already!"

"I had never been involved in strategic planning but kept thinking that it might be exactly what we needed to get more focused and be able to have more impact with our services. I needed help to figure out where to start and how to go about strategic planning. Then we found Planning School! They made it so easy and fun! Now, we will always have a strategic plan!"

"The idea of strategic planning sounded good but also seemed totally overwhelming. And, some of my team members had bad experiences with planning so they weren't exactly excited about the idea. I needed help with strategic planning but I didn't want to have to rely on a contractor who didn't know our nonprofit to lead the process. I'm so grateful I found Planning School! They gave me the tools, skills, and confidence to do planning in-house, and now we have a plan we are actually executing!"

About the Training

Over 10 weeks, you'll learn contemporary strategic planning and build a Strategic Action Plan.

  • Expert Instructors

    You get expert instructors. We’ve worked onsite nationwide as consultants to small and large organizations, multi-unit collaboratives, agencies, nonprofits, and for-profit entities throughout our careers. And we have worked with hundreds of leaders online, teaching them how to think strategically and plan nimbly.

  • Learn-Apply

    Between weekly, virtual classes, you’ll apply what you learn to your team or organization. You will engage staff and key stakeholders, complete research and assessment, conduct brainstorms, engage in dialogue and make decisions, and apply your lessons as you go. You'll have a complete Strategic Action Plan at the end.

  • Substantial Toolkit

    We put our private toolkit into this training filled with templates, process directions, activities, tools, hard-earned tips, best practices, and troubleshooting recommendations. You'll have access to an online learning portal filled with video lessons and resources, and you'll get a workbook you can reference anytime you plan.

Other advantages

In addition to the in-depth training and toolkit, the training has these perks.

  • Support

    You get specific advice for applying the lessons to your organization's unique needs. We’ll review your homework and debrief assignments to ensure you’re on track to have a strategic plan that serves you. Plus, it’s a small student-instructor ratio (15:1)!

  • Cohort Learning

    You’ll learn alongside other leaders—what are their challenges, and how are they addressing them? How are they engaging their staff? What’s working and not working for them? You’ll build professional relationships with peers and have support within your network.

  • Sector Adaptations

    In addition to learning a contemporary approach to strategic planning - you'll also learn planning adaptations specific to your sector. Learn planning adaptations for nonprofits, for-profit businesses, and agencies in the public sector to fit your environment.

Speak with an instructor to register.

We require interested students speak with an instructor to ensure this is a good fit of you!

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Meet your instructors

Founder + Instructor Liz Moore

I love this work! On the surface, it looks like helping leaders solve complex problems, build strong teams, and execute nimble strategies. Underneath, it’s really about delivering experiences that light up people’s courage and turn on their connection to purpose. I’ve spent a decade as a consultant and trainer specializing in strategic planning, change management, and leadership coaching. Going back even further, I’ve been behind the scenes facilitating organizations and individuals to define their purpose and professional identity. I’m a strategic thinking expert, master facilitator, skilled teacher, and coach.

Lead Instructor Krista Guardino

I refuse to accept the adage, “That’s just how things are” and believe through creativity and collaboration, any problem can be solved and every system can be streamlined. I specialize in questioning assumptions to promote innovation and complex problem-solving. I've worked with people around the country, facilitating the development of strategic plans. My experience with complex organizations is with Silicon Valley tech start-ups. I led marketing for an educational company disrupting the traditional textbook industry, and I'm a fan of people and organizations who are questioning the status quo and doing hard work to change systems.

Do you relate?

If you've had these thoughts or share these needs, this training might be perfect for you!

  • Mechanical and rigid TRADITIONAL APPROACHES to strategic planning DON'T FIT your style or your reality. You want something that gives you STRUCTURE, ADAPTABILITY, and purposeful ACTION.

  • You fancy yourself to be a bit strategic and savvy already but there's SOMETHING MISSING from your toolkit you can't quite put your finger on. Sometimes planning works. Sometimes it doesn't. You want CONFIDENCE that your approach to strategic planning will deliver.

  • You are interested in making contemporary strategic planning a SKILLSET YOU HAVE instead of strategic planning being an ACTIVITY YOU HIRE someone to do for you.

  • You are purpose-driven. You are worried that your organization's IMPACT might be COMPROMISED without a strategic plan.

  • You want to TAKE CARE of your TEAM. They are regularly OVERWHELMED and need FOCUS and INSPIRATION. They want CLEAR DIRECTION and SHARED PRIORITIES that they support.

  • You want your leadership to be EFFECTIVE and your guidance to create RESULTS. And, you want a plan your whole team is PROUD of.

FAQs + Common Concerns

  • What's the commitment?

    10 weeks. Weekly, 60-minute classes (recorded in case you miss) plus 1-3 hours of homework per week, and 3-4 onsite staff and/or stakeholder meetings over the course of the program. That's an average of 2-4 hours per week. We won't pretend it's not a time commitment. Discovering what’s truly important for your organization always requires hard work. Building a skillset you'll use throughout your career takes time. It also offers unprecedented rewards for clarity, inspiration, and accomplishment. This program is only for people willing (not "able," no one has a bunch of free time to throw at this) to put in the time and the work. The kicker? You’ll learn, really learn, how to do strategic planning.

  • I don't have time / the timing isn't right.

    You don’t have time because you are overwhelmed. You are overwhelmed because we've been on a trajectory of increasing complexity and uncertainty. Most teams struggle to figure out what to STOP doing so they can focus on what’s most important. So, here you are, doing too much. In our experience, the only way out of the continuously-reacting mode is to be more strategic. So, find a solution that works for your organization, or keep treading water. And, maybe the timing is NOT right. Sometimes you need to “let the earthquake stop” to see where all the shelves fall before you figure out how to pick everything up and move forward. But remember: the uncertainty and turmoil we are facing are not likely to diminish in the months or years to come. Have a heart-to-heart with your hesitation (and maybe with an instructor) and make sure waiting is truly the best choice. (If you’ve read this far, we have a hunch it’s time.)

  • My team requires an outside facilitator.

    If your team is dysfunctional, we recommend you start working on team function BEFORE you begin strategic planning. A truly dysfunctional team will implode a planning process. As leaders, isn't it our responsibility to work with team members to be productive and not destructive? Letting bad behavior be the reason you can't do proper strategic planning isn't acceptable. Instead, let it be a clear indicator of what you need to do FIRST: team development or working with individuals on their performance. And another point: if you need a "big stick" to get this type of work done and the "big stick" leaves at the end of the process, how do you expect execution will go? We've been the "big sticks" for a long time and deeply believe that an internally led process results in an EXECUTED plan (instead of a written one). And, of course, there ARE TIMES when complexity requires an outside consultant. We can help you decide what's best for your situation.

  • Does the training include sector-specific education?

    The training includes planning adaptations for three primary sectors: nonprofits, for-profit businesses, and public agencies. You use what applies to your organization!

  • Can I see a plan?

    Possibly. We are very protective of our client’s confidentiality, and we do have permission to share plans in certain scenarios. It requires that you set up a time to chat with us about the program, and we can determine if there’s a plan we can share. And everyone enrolled in the training gets to see a variety of finished plans.

  • Can I do a private cohort?

    Absolutely! You may be a subsidiary of a global organization and want to have a cohort with a few of your teams. Or, you are part of a professional group and would like to take the course with them. We require a minimum of ten students to join a private cohort; we can take up to 15. If you're interested, head to our contact page to schedule a time to discuss your needs.

  • How much does it cost?

    All of our full programs are priced to be less than the cost of an external strategic planning expert doing the process for you. You can see current pricing by requesting a brochure via our contact page. Pricing depends on the size of your organization, and we offer early-bird discounts, nonprofit pricing, and situational sliding-scales. Head to the upper right-hand corner, click the "contact" page, and request a brochure or schedule a chat with an instructor who can provide pricing for your specific situation.

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