226. Embracing New, Creative + Better Ways of Thinking, Planning + Working - Veronica LaFemina
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Overview
Meet Veronica. Welp, it's happened. We're flummoxed. Veronica has made us believers in the one-sheet strategic plan. Seriously! She's advising nonprofits to move from "we've always done it this way" and "this is best practices" to embrace new, creative and better ways of thinking, planning, and working through a strategic plan. We all need new strategic plans in light of the pandemic, and Veronica's bringing in an entirely new way to think, build, activate, and continually review those plans🧐
💡LEARN
-How to move from ideation to execution on your strategic plan
-3 things to consider when building strategy
-How to activate your strategic plan
-How to measure the programs that are already in place
Today’s Guest
Veronica LaFemina, Founder + CEO, LaFemina & Co.
“Strategy is only successful when the human beings who have to execute it know what they are supposed to do and what it means for the future of their organization.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode highlights
Veronica’s story and journey to where she is today (3:00)
Things to consider when building strategy (7:00)
Involving the voice of your community in the strategic process (13:00)
Activating your strategic plan (16:00)
Overview of the strategic planning process: from ideation to execution (23:00)
A powerful moment of philanthropy in Veronica’s life (33:00)
Veronica’s One Good Thing: Listening is life changing. Spend time this week listening. (37:00)
powerful quotes
“Over the course of my career I moved from communications to this broader strategy perspective.” -Veronica
“Strategy is only successful when the human beings who have to execute it know what they are supposed to do and what it means for the future of their organization.” -Veronica
“There may be fantastic program ideas, but maybe they’re not a fit because that’s not who you are.” -Veronica
“Strategy is a series of choices of what we will and won’t do.” -Veronica
“We have to give our folks enough tools to make the choices that will make our strategy come to life.” -Veronica
“It feels complicated to involve our community, but why?” -Veronica
“How can we understand our community as whole people? Then we can see and hear the solutions they need.” -Veronica
“If a strategy can’t be activated it is just nice words on paper.” -Veronica
“Our resources are all tied up in making incremental progress on those individual efforts, instead of an integrated effort.” -Veronica
“Some of the things we laid out, maybe we aren’t yet in the position to successfully execute that.” -Veronica
“There will be opportunities that come up that we didn’t plan for. When we have enough directions and guidelines for the decisions we’re going to make, we empower the staff to seize opportunities and make choices in life with it.” -Veronica
“Clearly understand what success looks like, when are you going to measure it and how often?” -Veronica
“You don’t have to invent any of this from scratch. You do need to be honest about what process and tools work for your organization.” -Veronica
“Ideation needs to come well before the strategic planning process. You should have a running list of ideas based on what the community is telling you what they need.” -Veronica
“Don’t rely on the momentary miracle that somebody is going to be brilliant on the day of strategic planning sessions. Create a way to collect and review ideas on a daily basis.” -Veronica
“Are you creating a pause to listen and analyze? These ideas change the ways you show up and go through this process.” -Becky
“Our work is so joyful.” -Veronica
“That pause is how we create room to grow. How we create space, time, and energy to advance what we care about.” -Veronica
Things to Consider When Building Strategy:
What would it look like if you gave yourself permission to focus on what you do absolutely best?
What is your role?
How could you get your strategy onto one page?
Involving Your Community in Your Strategy
Listening to our community should be an everyday thing (not just during your strategic planning!)
Make community voices a regular part of your staff meetings
Activating Your Strategy:
Look around and ask, “who’s voice is missing?
Is this even a community need?
Once you have articulated your core priorities, the decision makers throughout the organization need to sit down together to decide how they’re going to do it
Strategic Planning: Ideation to Execution
Review your mission and vision
Revisit your values
Conduct a role or identity exercise. Write down all the ways you could show up, and narrow it down
What are your top 3 focus areas?
What does sustainable impact look like?
Connect with Veronica
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Episode Sponsored by
Studio Selfie
Julie Confer, Becky Endicott, Jonathan McCoy and Veronica LaFemina
