Episode Overview

Podcast: Leading Organizations That Matter
Host: Rey Spadoni
Episode: 95 – The Strategic Plan "Refresh"
Date: December 9, 2025

This episode focuses on a timely, practical concern for mission-driven and nonprofit organizations—how to keep their strategic plans relevant in an environment of rapid change. Rey Spadoni addresses the shift from static, inflexible planning cycles to a more agile and responsive approach, highlighting the evolving role of boards and leaders in stewarding these strategies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Changing Pace of Strategic Planning

• Traditional Model: Boards used to review strategic plans every 3–5 years, often with little engagement between cycles.
• Current Shift: Boards now expect more frequent involvement and oversight due to increasing uncertainty and accelerated change.
  • Quote:

    "Boards have begun to acclimate to a faster pace of change and also to the fact that something unexpected can come at you from the blind side and negatively impact you in ways that you never saw coming."
    (06:04)

2. Board Engagement: New Expectations

• Boards seek:
  • Active involvement over time
  • Timely information on strategic progress
  • Opportunity for input before the formal plan expires
  • Quote:

    "How can we more actively stay involved in the process over time? ... How will we know how it’s going or whether we need to shift?"
    (03:06)

3. Three Key Strategies for a Strategic Plan “Refresh”

(1) Set Measurable Deliverables (07:12)

• Define upfront what success looks like for each strategic goal.
• Establish clear criteria to avoid future ambiguity.
  • Quote:

    "Be clear right up front what the definitions of success will be for your key goals so that there can be a more limited debate over time regarding whether you’ve sufficiently advanced towards the goal or not."
    (07:18)

(2) Use Simple Scorecards (08:10)

• Deploy easy-to-read status dashboards (green/yellow/red).
• Present these to the board or a subcommittee at least twice per year.
• For fast-moving projects, offer updates more frequently as needed.
  • Quote:

    "Consistently deploy simple scorecards showing green, yellow, red, status...you review with the full board or a subcommittee of the board at least twice a year."
    (08:18)

(3) Formal Plan “Refresh” Mid-Cycle (09:19)

• Intentionally schedule a formal review at the midpoint between major plans.
• Adjust as necessary—formally and in writing—based on progress and new information.
• The refresh should be quick, guided by a predefined methodology, and less comprehensive than the original plan.
  • Quote:

    "Plan right up front to have a formal refresh at roughly the halfway point between plans, review the initial goals and assess progress...modify the plan for the balance of the time frame."
    (09:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the new board mindset:

  "Boards are keen on making sure that they have a cleaner and clearer line of sight into the strategic issues, and at intervals shorter than every three to five years."
  (05:30)

• On the pandemic as a turning point:

  "Going back a few years. The Pandemic introduced that concept to all of us, and in a pretty dramatic fashion."
  (05:58)

• On the efficiency of a “refresh”:

  “I do not recommend that the refresh be anything at all nearly as comprehensive as the plan development itself. Rather, it’s something that should be done pretty quickly and according to some type of a predefined methodology that is agreed upon up front.”
  (10:10)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:10 – Introduction and context for strategic planning
• 02:45 – Observations from working with nonprofit boards
• 05:00 – Why the planning cycle is changing
• 07:12 – Strategy 1: Measurable deliverables
• 08:10 – Strategy 2: Scorecards and status reporting
• 09:19 – Strategy 3: Mid-cycle strategic plan refresh
• 10:10 – How to approach and structure a refresh
• 11:05 – Closing recommendations

Episode Tone & Style

Rey Spadoni’s delivery is clear, direct, and practical. The tone is encouraging and emphasizes actionable tips, rooted in real-world consulting experience, for listeners who lead or advise impactful organizations.

Summary Takeaways

• Frequent, well-structured involvement from boards is now a best practice.
• Make performance measurable, simplify oversight, and build in a formal mid-term review.
• The “strategic plan refresh” is a practical response to a volatile environment and essential for organizations that want to stay mission-aligned and effective.
• For further discussion, Rey Spadoni invites listeners to reach out, underscoring his commitment to helping organizations that matter.