Strategic Planning

Strategic planning ensures organizations develop bold blueprints for success. Every strategic planning process is different because each organization is unique, yet each process contains a few essential elements: an analysis of the internal and external environment; broad participation throughout the organization and key external stakeholders (if appropriate); and development of far-reaching, yet achievable goals, and effective strategies to accomplish those goals.

Development and/or revision of mission, vision and values statements can also be significant components of this process. The result: organizations are transformed and achieve remarkable, ongoing success that they have defined. These are not strategic planning documents that “sit on the shelf.” These are processes that engage the organization in new ways of approaching their work, with planning documents that are constantly referred to in the ensuing months and years.

Success stories:

Arts Council Silicon Valley began a strategic planning process just as the “dot.com boom” was going bust. Shortly after the process began, the tragic events of September 11, 2001 unfolded. Funders predicted major cuts to arts organizations. Within this challenging environment, the Arts Council made bold plans to become the leading spokesperson for the arts in Silicon Valley and raise the visibility of the arts, while making measured decisions to discontinue some programs and re-focus staff positions.  By 2005, ACSV had doubled its budget and increased its grants to arts organizations when virtually all other foundations had decreased or eliminated arts funding in the region. Visibility of the arts has dramatically increased and ACSV has established itself as a leader in the arts community.

A membership organization began its planning process facing a critical question of whether or not to buy a building; this question threatened to break the organization apart with the two sides sharply polarized. Miriam worked with the organization to re-frame this question, to encompass some of the deeper concerns that all members shared. She helped the organization frame a few options and structured an investigation into each of these options. A key aspect of the process was the development of a participatory strategy to engage the membership in a series of facilitated conversations. As a result, the organization made several key decisions in its planning process that were adopted by consensus by its 400 household membership. The organization has since made several bold moves, including buying a building, and is thriving with new members and programs, and unanimity of purpose.

 

 
Meeting and Retreat Facilitation

Miriam Abrams will help you design and facilitate a successful meeting or retreat, whether it is 2 hours or 3 days.  Miriam will help you clarify your desired outcomes, develop an agenda collaboratively with your design team and/or organization leadership, and expertly facilitate the retreat or meeting. Participants will feel energized and concrete outcomes will be achieved in a relatively short period of time.

 

 

Board development

Board development, clarifying board roles and responsibilities, and board effectiveness are some of the biggest challenges faced by today’s non-profit organizations. Miriam brings a custom-designed approach to each organization. Eschewing a “one size fits all” philosophy, Miriam will help your organization define the board’s role that’s appropriate for your particular circumstances, and based on that, determine what kinds of board members will be most effective for the organization’s current and future growth. Strategies for board member identification, recruitment, cultivation, training, evaluation and retention are also provided.

 

 
Leadership Development and Coaching

Today’s leaders are faced with a range of organizational circumstances that require changing sets of skills and expertise.  As part of a larger process, or as stand-alone sessions, Miriam helps bring out the best in organizational leadership. Through leadership development and coaching, leaders can dramatically increase their personal effectiveness, making a significant impact on the organization’s success.

 

 

Multicultural Training and Strategic Planning

Miriam Abrams and Associates has developed multicultural strategic planning processes in which cultural competency is the lens through which all organizational decisions are made. Using innovative methods and the VISIONS model of multicultural training, Miriam Abrams and Associates has helped organizations develop groundbreaking programs and organizational cultures that respect, appreciate and celebrate differences.