Stop Killing Your Strategy

Nonprofit executives - these five words are killing your strategy.

As an advisor and facilitator, when I hear someone on the executive team say them, I know we're headed into dangerous territory. Seemingly harmless, and framed as common sense, they move us away from strategic clarity and push us into operational quicksand.

What words am I talking about?

"Well, we have to include..."

Here's why they're such a problem.

Strategy is a series of interconnected choices about what we will and won't do to achieve our goals. Strategic clarity comes from knowing who we are, where we're headed, and how we'll get there - including what we will AND won't do.

"Have to" items are almost always appeasements rather than proactive, strategic choices.

• Pet projects of the board.

• Legacy programs we feel we can't part with.

• Big ideas we know are important but aren't ready to actually implement.

• Fundraising strategies everyone is talking about and we don't want to be left out.

"Have to" items are ones done for show or box-checking - not true impact.

The more "have to" items you shoehorn into your strategy, the less time, attention, and resources you have for doing the work that will actually help you reach your goals.

They suck up resources, create unnecessary conflicts, and confuse your staff, supporters, and community.

It's hard to say no to "have to" items. But the short-term discomfort involved in saying no is worth the long-term clarity and alignment that come from having a focused set of priorities your team can effectively advance.

When we reduce these obligations, we can focus on activation of our true strategic priorities.

If you're truly looking to advance your organization's impact, get comfortable saying no to your "have to" items - and give yourself, and your team, permission to focus on what's most important right now.

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As strategic advisors to nonprofit CEOs and department leaders, this is one of the ways LaFemina & Co. helps - enabling you to explore the bigger strategic questions facing your organization, take action, and be accountable. If you’re ready to get the right support to help you and your team focus on what's most important, send us a message and we'll set up time to connect.