As we mentioned in our last blog, knowing when you’re ready for strategic planning can set you, your organization, and your community up for deep and meaningful social change. But let’s not kid ourselves: not all strategic planning is good strategic planning. In fact, some planning processes are downright bad.

Wouldn’t it be cool if you had a cheat sheet to know which common strategic planning pitfalls to avoid? Oh wait, that’s what this article is. Boom.

There are three mistakes we see again and again, and each of them leads to a bad process, bad plan, and missed opportunity to actually improve your community. Let's name them, break them down, and talk about how to avoid them.

Whether you’re going solo and leading a strategic planning process in-house or hiring a firm like Third Plateau to help you along the way, please, please, pretty please, don’t make these three common mistakes. You, your team, and your community all deserve better.

Of course, if you have any questions or if we can be of any assistance as you embark on your strategic planning journey, we got you.