Lifespan
Lifespan - Strategy Map 1.0
Challenge
Lifespan is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help older adults and their caregivers take on the challenges and opportunities of longer life. Founded almost 50 years ago, Lifespan helps nearly 400,000 older adults each year through a wide variety of services.
Lifespan updates its strategic plan every three years in order to establish priorities designed to help the organization achieve its mission and work towards its vision, while bearing in mind economic, demographic, and other relevant factors.
Approach
Westover Strategy Chief Executive Susan Byrd managed the strategic planning process, which includes a SWOT, an offsite retreat and a Strategy Map. Following the SWOT and retreat, a Strategic Planning Committee, guided by Susan, and composed of both Board and staff, worked closely to develop a one-page, three-year Strategy Map, leveraging the strategic priorities that emerged from the SWOT assessment, offsite retreat, and committee discussions.
Results
The Strategy Map has been completed and approved by the board. Board and staff agree that it provides needed clarity on the objectives, timeline, and measures for the next three years. In addition to providing direction, on strategic priorities, the Strategy Map will be used to educate Lifespan staff, Board, and volunteers. Going forward, the Board will review progress towards the objectives on a quarterly basis.
"At Lifespan we engaged Susan Byrd to manage our strategic planning process, which included a SWOT, an offsite retreat, and a 3 year Strategy Map which was approved by the Board and became the cornerstone of operational planning. Susan was masterful in leading this highly successful endeavor. In full evidence throughout were her high-level skills and years of experience navigating strategic planning efforts. She had a clear vision for the process and executed it beautifully. Her approach was inclusive and efficient. She demonstrated great skill in bringing diverse ideas to consensus and practical conclusions. The result was a plan the Board and agency staff embraced enthusiastically. It continues to drive our focus and provide an important touchstone to assess our progress. In my years of business and nonprofit experience I have not seen as skillful a leader as Susan in leading strategic planning. She is a not only a resource of the highest order, but also a wonderful person with whom to work. I cannot recommend her strongly enough."