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Strategic planning 101
By Jeremy | July 12, 2006
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Hmm, here are some initial thoughts (way too late at night to be thorough):
1 - What ...
(a) is your vision? This is the single most important question for you to answer. Be prepared to give a 2 sentence soundbite answer or a 30 minute presentation depending on how much time he gives you. Your short answer should be phrased to provoke him to want to know more. Remember KISS (Keep it simple, stupid). No need to overcomplicate this, but make it compelling. (For example, God's vision, through millenia of history, could be summed up in one sentence: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.")
(b) the need your serving? How does your vision respond to afelt need within the community?
2 - Why does your vision matter? Personalize the why. Be prepared with stats and data and demographics and whatever other reasons you might have, but what's going to win Pastor over is the people your vision is going to reach, not numbers and data. Tell a story or 2 or 3 about the difference your services/passion can make in someone's life. "We overcome the enemy by the blood of the lamb, and the word of our TESTIMONY!"
3 - Who ...
(a) are you called to serve? Again, I can't overstate the value of stories. Who benefits?
(b) else (organizations, individuals, [congregation]) is part of the team: staff, volunteers, advisers, etc? Generally, the more the merrier, but be realistic in your assessment of this. It's probably best to build with a small group initially and expand from there. Remember, Jesus picked 12, and they took his message and changed the world.
(c) are competitors and/or partners in the cause? Paint a picture of the current landscape.
4 - How do you propose to get the job done? This is where you should be prepared with as much detail as possible about your plans (keeping in mind he may not even ask), such as budgets, strategy, programs, services, hours, operations, staff, volunteers, organizational structure (e.g. seperate nonprofit, ministry of [church], initiative of [collaboration or network], extensive of some other ministry), etc.
5 - Where do you see the vision being implemented: [neighborhood], South Brooklyn, the entire borough, the city, region, etc? Is it a storefront, a church office, an entire facility of its own?
He may also want to hear more personally from you why this vision matters (to you, not just in general) and whether you have explored other options to possibly see the vision materialize. I.e., does it have to be a [church] deal or a new organization? Are there other options, like pursuing existing jobs in the field?
Also, don't be intimidated by questions or feel like you have to have an answer for everything. Do your homework and get prepared as much as possible at this stage of the process, but he's not going to be surprised that you're still doing research and planning. In fact, to some degree it's best not to have all the answers because it gives him and/or [the congregation] reason to get plugged in. If you could handle it on your own, why should he bother?
Lastly, be conversational, but professional. The last thing he wants is to feel like someone's selling him something and he's going to get stuck with a huge bill. To the extent you communicate your passion conversationally, rather than some forced, rehearsed script, the better off you'll be. But remain professional. You are the visionary here -- i.e. the one to whom God entrusted this dream -- and as such you're responsible to lead and show others the way.cash loan washington advancesignature bank 1st loansact education loanloans for georgia advanceaccreditted loan home3rd home loan equity5 motorcycle loanloans american home dream Mapdunnellon stars fl pornand diamond dustin pornporno clip diamond dustinporn star dustinduston video diamond porndutch free pornporn legal dutch teendutch age porn Map
Topics: leadership, youth ministry | 2 Comments »
July 13th, 2006 at 10:08 am
Excellent summary of main points to cover for personally presenting a proposal! And if you can do this late into the night, imagine what you could do when you’re wide awake
When I first read the title, I was thinking more along the lines of those 2-day strategic planning sessions with a consultant, and developing those strategies, priorities, goals, objectives, timeline, and all that kind of operational stuff. But what you’ve written is indeed very helpful to prepare how to present a ministry idea and finding those who would respond and support!
July 15th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Good points
This guy has some great resources: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/ Also I did a training at UYWI on this very topic. I think the Mp3 can be downloaded. It’s a workshop on how to start stuff…