Why Strategic Planning Gets a Bad Rap
Strategic planning doesn’t get a bad rap among those who have benefitted immensely from participating in well-timed planning cycles, as one church leader recently confirmed: “Many of the blessings we have received over the years seem to be tied directly to our repeated planning processes. We highly value strategic ministry planning here and always will!”
Still, strategic planning often gets a bad rap because of two major factors:
Disappointing experiences
Misguided perceptions.
Disappointing experiences are usually the result of self-analysis - attempts at strategic planning without enough experience, guidance, or support. While some school ministries have the internal expertise to create a strategic plan, many do not.
Be aware of the common self-analysis hazards:
Knowing there is a need to plan but not knowing how —this produces frustration and failure
Operating from an institutional frame of mind rather than a kingdom-focused mindset
Having blind spots that keep people from clearly seeing all the relevant issues, as well as both existing and future opportunities for ministry
Getting lost in the details (analysis paralysis) so the big picture is never clearly understood or communicated
Playing it safe and failing to make difficult decisions in order to keep people comfortable
Allowing the planning process to stall or dragging it out resulting in a loss of interest and impact
Failing to build consensus resulting in a lack of ownership and, at times, relentless resistance
In addition, the following misguided perceptions seem to surface most frequently among people:
Misguided Perception 1: “Relying on strategic planning in the church shows a lack of confidence that the Lord will guide and bless as he desires.”
There must always be confidence, frequently expressed in prayer, that the Lord is guiding the planning process and will bring about the blessings he desires.
Misguided Perception 2: “Utilizing secular strategic planning methodology in the church is inappropriate.”
It is vital that those who lead and participate in the planning process be ministry-minded and firmly grounded in God’s Word. This means some methodology will be modified or avoided, but there are many wonderful planning principles that can be used in ministries.
Misguided Perception 3: “Designing and conducting a strategic planning process will be easy.”
Strategic planning is challenging because it requires perceptive analytical thinking, big picture visualization, clarification of specific goals and strategies, and the challenges of moving both the analytical and action components through the organizational environment.
Misguided Perception 4: “Participating in a planning process will automatically bring positive results.”
Peter Drucker (an Austrian-American management consultant, educator, and author) was famous for this alleged quote: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” The best planning processes influence how people think, feel, and function. In other words, they modify culture (i.e., values, beliefs, attitudes, habits, behaviors, norms).
Misguided Perception 5: “Going through a strategic planning process will serve the church or school for many years, even decades.”
Yes, a ministry may benefit from an initial long-range planning process for years, especially if the plan is refreshed on an annual basis. But the view “one and done” is wrongheaded when it comes to strategic planning essentially because of one word. CHANGE! Ministry planning must be cyclical (as the following illustration asserts) for the greatest benefits to be realized.
Strategic planning will stop getting a bad rap when we focus more on why it matters. Strategic planning matters because it…
demonstrates faithfulness to Christ’s call to “go and make disciples…” (Matt. 28:19-20).
ignites needed conversations about how best to invest available resources.
helps teams overcome challenges and identify ministry opportunities.
encourages informed decision-making that supports long-range strategic direction.
builds consensus, clarifies purpose, and identifies priorities throughout the organization.
Does your church/school ministry have a long-range strategic plan? Who owns and drives it? When was it last updated? Who knows where it is or what is in it?
————————————————————
Looking for more help?
Strategic planning is a valuable process for faith-based schools, especially those that are seeking to move from surviving year-to-year to thriving and sustainable! Schedule a consultation here —we’ll answer your questions about the process, the benefits, and the way forward for your unique ministry.
————————————————————
