Why Nonprofit Strategy Execution Fails (and How to Fix It)
You’ve invested time, energy, and resources into crafting a strategic plan. The vision is clear, the goals are ambitious, and the future looks bright.
But too often, these carefully laid plans die of neglect.
Why do nonprofit strategy executions fail so frequently? How can you ensure your organization’s plan doesn’t? Having recently guided a nonprofit CEO and board through their strategic planning process, I prepared this warning list for them —and more importantly, the solutions.
Why Does Nonprofit Strategy Execution Fail?
The Execution Gap: Common Culprits and Challenges
1. Lack of Skills
The assigned person or task force lacks the skills or knowledge to execute the plan. It doesn’t know how to obtain the needed skills. They might assume they “should” understand it and something is lacking in them. Or, they may think the idea is a bad one, and hope it will go away.
2. Overly Ambitious Goals and Resource Constraints
Embracing the strategy wanes in the face of reality. The work is enormous or more complex than anyone expected. The ideas weren’t ambitious, they were “pie in the sky,” not “feet on the ground.”
“It’s too hard,” everyone moans.
3. Planned to Death
Too much preparation: too few actions. The annual plan process became so cumbersome that it killed the enthusiasm, innovation, and energy the strategy development process generated.
4. Too Many Priorities
Most nonprofits can focus on one or two strategic priorities. When Bob Iger took over Disney, he was advised to pick three priorities.
If you’re like most (all?) nonprofits, you probably lack the resources of Disney. When we have too many top priorities, we keep switching to the other priority when ever we reach a tough spot.
5. Distractions Triumphed
Every nonprofit has more to do than hours in a day. When the strategy is seen as a nice extra that you’ll get to when you have time, strategies fail.
6. Lack of Clarity
The plan states that staff will do “enlist new supporters.”
It doesn’t outline
- where they will be found
- how they will be engaged
- and which staff will do the enlisting, etc.
The 30,000 foot strategy is clear, but specific weren’t developed sometimes because the drafters didn’t know how to carry out the concepts.
Tactics for Successful Nonprofit Strategy Execution: Keep Your Nonprofit Strategy Execution from Failing
Given these potential challenges, how can you ensure the success of your nonprofit’s strategic plan? Use these solutions:
1. Include Learning and Skill Building
Assume everyone needs new skills. This includes staff, board members, and volunteer. Outline specifics that they will read, watch, attend and so forth.
2. Keep a Far-out Perspective
Pace yourselves. Remember, your strategy and strategic plan are designed to serve you for the long term. Anticipate that the outcomes will take time. Progress might even remain invisible initially.
Identify and celebrate small wins.
- How are you thinking differently?
- How long has it been since you actually implemented a tactic?
Moving a nonprofit organization isn’t as hard as moving mountains a spoonful at a time, but it’s likely at first you’ll only have a ladle, not a bulldozer. Some of the best strategic plans take a life time to come to full fruition, but the journey is worthwhile.
3. Act Soon
Create pilots or quick actions to test the water. What is the quickest act you can take to make progress? Procrastination burns energy.
4. Focus
A realistic strategic plan identifies one, maybe two, strategic priorities. It’s a case of do-less to achieve more.
5. Repeat the Goal, Repeat the Goal, Repeat the Goal, and Repeat it Again
Leaders reiterate these musts to the community. No matter the clatter, disturbance, or mayhem, leaders steer toward priorities. It’s a bit like teaching four-year-olds. You keep sharing the goal until people start telling you the goal.
Don’t let your strategic plan gather dust on a shelf. Take the first step towards successful execution by assessing your organization’s readiness and identifying potential roadblocks. I’m here to help you navigate this journey. Schedule a mini-consultation to discuss your specific challenges and develop a tailored execution strategy. Click here to set a time to chat.
