Leading the Strategic Planning Process - Club Managers ...

116 Chapter 4to improve or adapt a strategic plan as it does for new clubs attempting to createan entirely new plan.Organizational Strategic Planning:A Step-by-Step ProcessStrategic planning helps you lead your club from a long-term perspective. For aclub, strategic planning always relates to the club’s self-definition of what it wantsto become. Thus, strategic planning affects operational decisions and determineshow the club will practically achieve what it ideally wants to be.Undertaking the process of strategic planning can be a daunting task. Thereare a number of elements inherent in the creation of an integrated strategic planthat may, at first glance, confuse even the most experienced club manager. However,when considered in a progressive order of importance, these elements workclearly and crucially with each other. They are:1. Vision2. Mission3. Goals4. Objectives5. Organizational situation analysis (SWOT)6. Strategy statement7. Budgets8. Action plan9. Assessing progressIf any step is not already in place at the club, the manager responsible for thestrategic planning process should ensure that the missing step is completed beforeproceeding to the next stage of the process.From the outset of the planning process, be sure to create an atmospherein which contributions are welcomed. Essentially, you want to help ensure thatall participants can safely share ideas, without the ideas being shouted down orignored as being insignificant or otherwise unimportant.To help you set the appropriate tone:1. Encourage active involvement. All participants (in any meeting or planningsession) should be actively involved in the process. Stating participationexpectations up front can help keep impatient or more vocal participantsfrom controlling the process and potentially shutting down creative viewpointsand ideas.2. Solicit different points of view. The idea during these strategic planning sessions—especiallyin the early stages—is to get broadness of ideas. You mayfind it helpful to announce that the purpose is to generate a lot of ideas