In the first part of our strategic planning workshop, we covered the fundamentals of the strategic planning process and key components like mission, vision and values. Now let’s go deeper on two critical aspects of the planning process – setting SMART goals and conducting a SWOT analysis.
Crafting SMART Strategic Goals
One essential part of a strategic plan is outlining the strategic goals the organization wants to achieve over the next 3-5 years. But effective goal-setting requires more than just jotting down a few ambitions.
Strategic goals should follow the SMART criteria:
Specific – The goal must clearly define what you are aiming to accomplish using precise language. Avoid vague or ambiguous goals.
Measurable – Include quantifiable metrics and indicators that will allow you to track progress toward achieving the goal.
Achievable – Goals should be challenging but realistic given available resources, constraints, and capabilities.
Relevant – The goal should map directly to accomplishing part of the organization’s broader mission and vision.
Time-bound – Specify a target date or deadline for achieving the goal. This creates accountability.
Well-constructed SMART goals provide essential focus and enable monitoring performance. Make sure you gather input from across the organization and gain alignment on priority goals. Also, limit yourself to 3-5 big-picture strategic goals rather than trying to cover everything.
Performing a SWOT Analysis
Another important step is conducting a SWOT analysis to closely assess your internal strengths and weaknesses along with external opportunities and threats.
Strengths – These are internal attributes, resources or capabilities that allow your organization to successfully coordinate outreach. Examples might include passionate volunteers, respected local partnerships, or efficient processes.
Weaknesses – Examine internal gaps, deficiencies or vulnerabilities that could hinder your outreach efforts. Maybe your weakness is inconsistent communication, lack of training, or limited funding.
Opportunities – Consider promising external factors you could potentially capitalize on, like networking with new churches or utilizing emerging technologies.
Threats – Identify risks, obstacles or trends in the outside environment that could negatively impact operations, like decreased local support or new regulations.
Thoroughly investigating this SWOT matrix provides tremendous insight into strategic priorities that should be addressed in your plan. Make sure to gather input from all stakeholders when performing analysis.
Applying Strategic Planning to Your Outreach
Now that we’ve covered core concepts like SMART goals and SWOT analysis, it’s time to put these strategic planning tools into action.
Here are some next steps to begin implementing strategic planning for your outreach coordination:
Conduct a SWOT Assessment – Bring together your team and key stakeholders for an open discussion identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats affecting your outreach. Capture findings.
Define Your Mission – Clearly articulate your ministry’s purpose and reason for existing. Align your team around why you do what you do.
Develop 3-5 Strategic Goals – Facilitate goal-setting aligned to your mission and SWOT outcomes. Remember to follow the SMART criteria.
Create Strategies and Action Plans – Determine the strategies and detailed plans required to successfully accomplish each goal.
Communicate the Plan – Hold a launch meeting to share the strategic plan across your organization and discuss how it will guide decisions.
Review and Adapt Regularly – Build in quarterly and annual plan reviews to measure progress, celebrate wins, and adjust course as needed.
While drafting a strategic plan takes concerted work, the effort pays immense dividends for ministry coordination and team alignment. Let strategic planning bear fruit in your outreach endeavors.
With SMART goals and SWOT analysis mastered, you now have more tools to develop a strategic plan that propels your outreach forward with increased wisdom and focus.
