What are the benefits of engaging an external facilitator for your next strategic plan?

Why would you need an external facilitator for your organisation's strategic plan process, when no one knows your organisation better than you? Let’s discuss the advantages of engaging an external facilitator to guide your organisation through this essential process. While it's possible to run a strategic planning project internally, there are numerous benefits of bringing in an expert from the outside to help you craft a more effective, focused and engaging plan.

Here are five key reasons why outsourcing your organisation's strategic planning project to an external facilitator can be a game-changer:

Objectivity

An external facilitator brings a fresh, unbiased perspective to the planning process. They're not caught up in the internal politics or personal dynamics that may cloud decision-making within your organisation. By providing an objective viewpoint, they can help identify issues that might otherwise be overlooked or avoided, ensuring that your strategic plan addresses all areas of concern.

Experience and Skills

Strategic planning facilitation is a specialised skill set that requires a deep understanding of the planning process and the ability to listen carefully to all stakeholders. An experienced facilitator can draw on their expertise to guide your organisation through the process, uncovering hidden concerns (‘the elephants in the room’) and helping to create a plan that addresses your organisation's specific needs and goals.

Focus

Keeping the strategic planning process on track can be challenging, especially when discussions veer off course. An external facilitator can help maintain focus and ensure that discussions remain productive, ultimately saving valuable time and energy.

Time

We understand that volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots organisations, such as sports and recreation clubs, and community organisations and your time is valuable. Engaging an external facilitator can save your organisation precious volunteer hours as the facilitator can handle the time-consuming aspects of the planning process, such as collating information and creating an engaging, visual strategic plan document.

Staying Out of the Weeds

It's all too easy for organisation members to get bogged down in the day-to-day operations, losing sight of the bigger picture. An external facilitator can help your organisation take a step back, focusing on long-term goals and the overall vision, instead of getting lost in the weeds of daily challenges.

Engaging an external facilitator to guide your organisation's strategic planning process can provide numerous benefits, from objectivity and focus to time savings and a well-defined long-term vision. By outsourcing this crucial task, you can ensure that your organisation creates a strategic plan that is both effective and engaging, setting your organisation on a path to success.

Remember, the right facilitator can make the strategic planning process enjoyable, productive and ultimately transform your organisation. If you're interested in learning more about how an external facilitator can help your organisation create a rewarding strategic plan, don't hesitate to reach out to us at CPR Group – our consultants are experienced and here to help you on your strategic planning journey.

Not sure how to start your strategic planning process in your organisation? Get in touch today with CPR Group, the industry experts in planning for Australian organisations for over 25 years.

Call 1800 100 204 or email info@cprgroup.com.au

Read our previous Planning for Success article in the series here