Achieving Strategic Clarity: How It Works

See What You'll Do in the Program

Achieving Strategic Clarity Curriculum

Step 1: Define your impact

Individual learning and reflection: You will learn about the concept of “intended impact” and individually develop a first draft of the components of your organization’s own intended impact statement. Once your team has developed a first draft in the team discussion, you will pressure-test this draft through a set of individual exercises.

Leadership team discussion: Over two team discussions, you’ll develop a first draft of the components of your organization’s intended impact and then refine the draft and prioritize open questions for further discussion and learning.

Coaching session: You'll meet with a Bridgespan coach to discuss your draft intended impact and think together about critical open questions that have emerged.

Step 2: Develop a theory of change

Individual learning and reflection: You will learn about the concept of “theory of change” and individually develop a first draft of the components of your organization’s theory of change. Once your team has developed a first draft, you will pressure-test this draft through a set of individual exercises.

Leadership team discussion: Over two team discussions, you’ll develop a first draft of the components of your organization’s theory of change, and then refine the draft and prioritize open questions for further discussion and learning.

Coaching session: You'll meet with a Bridgespan coach to discuss your draft theory of change and open questions, and you'll also identify potential next steps to further refine this draft and put your theory of change into practice.

Step 3: Roll out your strategy

Individual learning and reflection: You will reflect on your learning and progress to date and review potential next steps related to research planning and stakeholder engagement, while using your intended impact and theory of change in decision making.

Leadership team discussion: In your team discussion, you’ll outline immediate next steps to further refine your draft and start using it for decision making. This includes using one of the Bridgespan-provided toolkits to identify next steps and start making progress.

How Your Team Will Engage In This Work

All members of your executive team will have key roles to play in this process:

CEO/ED

• Be team champion and cheerleader
• Bring important content into team discussions
• Model participation and engagement

Project lead

• Act as team facilitator and “guide”
• Plan key logistical details (scheduling, meeting location, prepare materials before team discussions, as necessary)
• Surface and troubleshoot issues with the CEO/ED or Bridgespan

Team members

• Complete individual modules and all pre-work
• Attend and actively engage in team discussions
• Wear both individual/department “hat” and leadership team “hat”

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