Outward Strategy
Develop strategic direction and execution through planning that aligns teams and embeds accountability. In four sessions, your leadership team will create a comprehensive strategic plan with the alignment, transparency, and accountability needed to execute effectively.
What's included in the program
The Process
- Four collaborative planning sessions with your executive team
- Time between sessions for individual work plan development
- Assessment of current structures, performance, and key factors
- One-year organizational plan with measurable objectives
- Five-year strategic vision with financial forecast
- Implementation plan with reporting mechanisms and accountability structures
Deliverables You'll Create
- Clarified strategic priorities, objectives, and KPIs
- Individual executive work plans and budgets aligned to organizational goals
- Consolidated one-year organizational plan with cross-functional alignment
- Implementation plan including reporting patterns and frequencies
- Five-year strategic plan with clear objectives and financial projections
Participants should complete Arbinger's Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset course prior to beginning this process. Click here to learn more.
The four-session planning process
A collaborative approach that builds ownership, alignment, and accountability from the ground up.
Session 1
Establish Foundation
- Review and establish organizational strategic objectives
- Define key performance indicators
- Set one-year organizational objectives
- Clarify key workflows, roles, and reporting structure
Deliverables: Strategic priorities, objectives, KPIs, and reporting structure established
Session 2
Align & Refine
- Review individual work plans
- Review individual budgets
- Present consolidated organizational one-year plan
- Offer and receive cross-functional feedback and support
Deliverables: Collaborative alignment across functions; refined individual work plans
Session 3
Plan Implementation
- Optimize the one-year plan
- Determine reporting patterns and frequencies
- Establish or refine reporting mechanisms
- Build outward mindset culture to accomplish the plan
Deliverables: Organizational implementation plan; outward mindset culture embedded
Session 4
Look Ahead
- Ask big purpose questions
- Envision the future: develop five-year vision
- Scale objectives and reporting structure
- Forecast five-year financial picture
Deliverables: Five-year strategic plan with clear objectives and financial forecast
Why this approach works
Deep accountability to execute a strategic plan with discipline begins with leaders who are responsive in developing their organization's structure, processes, and plans collaboratively. Unlike traditional top-down strategic planning, Arbinger's Outward Strategy process enables executives to take responsibility for their impact on the overall strategy, not just their department's goals. The result? A plan that every leader owns, understands, and is accountable for executing.
What your leadership team will achieve
Through this process, executive team members will be equipped to:
Align Impact Goals
Set clear, impact-focused objectives that align individual efforts with organizational results
Empower Teams
Empower teams to identify efficiencies and innovative approaches to accomplishing objectives
Measure and Report
Measure and report performance with discipline, including variances and improvement plans
Recalibrate Processes
Continuously recalibrate processes and activities to ensure objectives are met
Mobilize Resources
Mobilize resources to sustain laser-like mission focus through collaborative short and long-range planning
Cultivate Excellence
Create a culture of excellence that motivates team members to deliver their best consistent with vision and values
Align Work
Understand their impact to plan and align work with overall organizational objectives
Track Key Metrics
Develop key metrics to track, improve, and report impact in ways that reinforce outward focus
Foster Problem-Solving
Foster transparency and collaborative problem-solving at all levels of the organization
Create Ownership
Engage people broadly in planning and implementation, creating widespread ownership and support
Designed for executive teams
This program is designed for senior leadership teams responsible for setting and executing organizational strategy. Participants should include:
- C-suite executives
- Vice presidents and senior directors
- Anyone accountable for organizational objectives and cross-functional results
- Leaders with budgetary and strategic planning responsibility
Optimal Group Size: 6-15 executive team members
Program details
Program Format
- The time needed for each session depends on the size of your executive team and the complexity of your organization.
- Sessions are fully customized to your strategic challenges, industry context, and organizational structure.
- Arbinger facilitators guide the process while your team does the strategic thinking and planning work
What's Customized
- Session length and scheduling
- Focus areas based on your strategic challenges
- Reporting mechanisms aligned to your systems
- KPIs relevant to your industry and goals
- Implementation timeline based on your readiness
Ready to align your executive team?
Schedule a complimentary strategy session to explore how Outward Strategy can help your leadership team develop a plan you'll actually execute, with the alignment, transparency, and accountability to drive results.