Developing a winning strategy is hard. Whether it’s a communications plan to win a campaign, or an organizational strategy to align your values and operations, I can apply my strategic planning approach to meet your needs, and leave you with a strategy you believe in.  

Most of my clients ask me to work on communications strategy, organizational strategy, or leadership advising. I start projects by asking six questions that sound deceptively simple. I’ve found that these questions lead to deep discussions that create the clarity needed for success:

• What are your goals and how will you know when you’ve met them?

• Who needs to be influenced in order to reach your goals?

• What will it take to influence them? 

• How ready and able is your organization to influence them?

• How will existing power structures and public narratives help or hurt?   

• How will you learn and adjust as you go? 

Grappling with these questions often spurs insights that make your strategy smarter.  The format of the strategy we create is dependent on the nature of your goals and the scope of the project. Regardless, the strategy will define the contours of your work and guide your major decisions moving forward.   

SPECIFIC AREAS OF EXPERTISE INCLUDE:

Organizational Strategy

Your organization may have a values statement, a vision, or a set of organizational goals.  But many organizations are missing a broad organizational strategy that outlines how they will deliver on their goals. Without that strategy, it’s hard to differentiate between the work that seems most urgent and the work that is actually most important. It’s hard to keep your day-to-day activities connected to your long-term goals. I’ll work with you to create that winning strategy by surfacing differing opinions, resolving those differences, and getting your leadership team all pulling in the same direction. 

Communications Strategy

You may need a communications strategy for a specific project or campaign, or a broader plan that guides all of your organization’s communications. My clients sometimes want help refining a specific aspect of their existing strategy, and sometimes they are starting from scratch. Regardless of the scope and context, I help connect your communications work to your broader goals and ensure that your resources are being used to maximize the impact and reach of your communications. 

Leadership Advising

Do your organization’s leaders have the resources and insights needed to make smart decisions and to lead with confidence? Are you implementing a new strategy or managing a changing culture? I provide thought partnership to CEOs and other leaders managing change, using an adaptive leadership model. This work often explores the critical role of executives as culture builders and internal communicators. I listen deeply to your needs, opportunities, and challenges, while remaining independent enough to provide honest feedback. I have learned to name the elephants in the room and address the tough issues that have to be addressed for an organization to thrive. 

Writing and Editing 

Good writing relies on many of the same components as good strategy: What do you want to communicate, who do you want to communicate it to, and what do you want your audiences to do or feel after they receive your message? I write and edit with a laser focus on those components. I’ve also been told by colleagues that I never miss a typo (I choose to see this as a compliment.) 

I am a sole practitioner and have a network of freelancers for projects that require additional support.