Coordinator - Sweet Adelines International

Chapter 1: Team Tools
Regional Management Team Handbook
4/13
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to walk from here?” asked Alice.
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat.
“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t much matter which way you walk,” said the cat.
Strategic Planning
Being a regional leader is a rewarding and challenging role, and in today’s world, it is
complicated by the speed of change in modern life. The question is not whether a group
will change, but how?
The goal of the strategic planning process is to organize the future. A good plan can help
close the gap between “what is” and “what is wanted.” Preparing a strategic plan is one of
the most important processes any organization can undertake. Why? Focus, direction, and
consistency are difficult to obtain—and even harder to preserve—in our environment of
change and changing leadership. Strategic planning, if done well, provides for all three.
Strategic plans are not intended to be “all things to all members.” They are designed to
develop clarity of purpose and to determine how resources should be targeted and
used for maximum results.
Begin the planning process with an environmental analysis, an exercise that identifies
the key external issues and/or trends that could impact the region in the future. When
thinking about the future, it is important to study emerging trends as well as understand
the current reality of how the region operates—its strengths and weaknesses. Another
step in planning for the future is envisioning the end result. Skipping this step is like
Alice in Wonderland hoping to find her way. The region will, absolutely, find its way,
but, without a clear understanding of where it wants to go and a road map to help in
getting there, who knows where it will be?
The final element in effective strategic planning is the development of a clear
implementation plan which links the written strategic plan with the current
operational calendar. It is crucial to remember that a strategic plan is a living
document that needs to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis so that it can be
adapted to meet the group’s changing needs.
Identify Guiding Principles
Guiding principles are core values in action. Identifying and prioritizing core values is
the first step in determining guiding principles. The following questions may help you
and your team members focus on your values:
• What are the qualities that make your Sweet Adelines life better?
• What helps you survive, thrive, and prosper?
• What would you like to have more of in your Sweet Adelines life?
• What would you miss if it were eliminated from your Sweet Adelines life?
• What qualities define the person you want to be?
Team Tools • 1-27