Strategic Planning Simplified

Because Spending Months on Planning Isn’t Strategic.

How do you define strategic planning?

After hundreds of calls with leaders, these two are the most popular definitions.

Strategy


Strategy defines the transformation needed to win.

What must our company become
to compete
and win in the marketplace?

  • Establish a winning aspiration
  • Make where to play and how to win choices
  • Identify needed capabilities and systems
  • Explore three strategic paths
  • Conduct pre-mortum and post-parade

Planning

Planning identifies the actions required to achieve it.

What must we do to
achieve results
over the following year?

  • Identify a 1-year company goal
  • Set the "Big Five" company objectives
  • Create sub-objectives, strategies, and key results
  • Generate a "Don't Do" list and rationale 
  • Plan to win the next 90 days

One and two-day agendas available

Need help deciding what type of agenda is right for you?

The Process: What can you expect?

  • Host Alignment

    Attend a 30-minute Leader Interview to refine objectives, review the agenda, address logistics, and clarify roles.

  • Ready The Team

    Participants will receive a video message, a prework assignment, and a custom webpage so they know what to expect and how to prepare.

  • Live Workshops

    Participants work in small groups, multi-track solutions, make recommendations, and align on first-draft choices.

  • Done-For-You Documentation

    Receive access to a drive with a refined second draft of documents and photos of participants in action.

  • Plan Activation

    Build momentum with a warm-handoff call, access to best practice guides, and a Ninety-Day Accountability meeting agenda.

What makes this strategic planning different?

  • We will focus on what makes the organization competitive in the marketplace, not on Mission, Vision, and Values or the team’s to-do list.

  • We won’t spend hours wordsmithing sentences. Jeff has a proven process for getting the words just right so you can focus on getting the best ideas on the table.

  • All of Jeff’s workshops are analog and activity-based. That means there will be no PowerPoint slides or long-winded presentations. We roll up our sleeves and get to work when the workshop begins.

  • Jeff doesn't settle for the first idea offered by the bravest or loudest person in the room. He uses processes to ensure everyone feels safe to participate regardless of their title.

  • There will be an agenda for this workshop, but Jeff is a master at adapting and improvising to reach the best outcome for the group.

  • Jeff is a businessperson who facilitates strategy workshops. He led a $1 billion frozen foods brand, spearheading one of the most transformational chapters of its history. He's been in your shoes and prioritizes practicality over theory.

CEO’s Guide:

Nine Strategic Pitfalls

Creating a winning strategy can be daunting. Download my free 12-page guide to avoiding the nine strategic pitfalls.

Trusted by:

  • “Jeff's facilitation has been a key ingredient to our business planning and leadership development program and overall success for the last eight years. He maximizes our planning efficiency and ensures that every voice is heard. Jeff's approachability, professionalism, and readiness to challenge brings the best out of our team.”

    Jake Macholtz
    Chief Executive Officer
    INEIGHT

  • “Jeff's facilitation, from executive retreats to system partner collaborations, showcases his unique blend of preparation and adaptability. He fosters a safe environment for open dialogue and creates clarity and alignment that last beyond the workshop. With Jeff at the helm, I always breathe easier, knowing we'll reach our desired outcomes.”

    Krista Brinkley McDonald
    EVP - Chief Strategy Officer
    Farm Credit Services of America

  • “As the leading Global Senior Care business, we've entrusted Jeff to design and lead vital workshops, strategy sessions, and retreats for partners from Ireland to Australia. His strategic acumen stands out, turning complex situations into clear options and choices. Whenever I need a strategic partner, Jeff is my first and only call.”

    Chris Alford
    Vice President of International Operations
    Honor

  • “Jeff steered us in setting a clear 3-year strategy, actionable 1-year plans, and team agreements. His '90-day rocks' approach has driven significant progress on our business priorities, and the flywheel is beginning to turn. I'm looking forward to seeing how progress continues to evolve. Given his impactful leadership, we've already secured him for next year's summit.”

    Amanda Bogner, PE, BEMP
    Founder | Engineer
    Energy Studio

  • Jeff Shannon has been my firm’s go-to advisor for strategy retreats for several years. Our strategy needs to evolve as quickly as our broader industry is. Therefore having a consistent partner to help facilitate the conversations that keep us in front of our competition has been invaluable.

    Greg Harris
    Chief Executive Officer
    Quantum Workplace

  • Jeff helped us distill a complex set of challenges into a clear, actionable strategy. His fresh approach and energy engaged the team in a strategic way throughout the process. He even helped us present it to our Board, where he received rave reviews. Jeff’s partnership made a real impact, and I’m sure we’ll work together again.

    Curt Hudnutt
    Chief Executive Officer
    American AgCredit

Strategic Planning Doesn’t have to be complicated.

Jeff’s process cuts through the clutter, delivering results in weeks—not months.

  • Lightweight Frameworks: Say goodbye to overblown models and endless debates. Jeff uses practical, focused tools that clarify choices and accelerate decisions.

  • Masterful Facilitation: With Jeff leading the way, every discussion has purpose, every voice is valued, and every decision moves your organization forward.

  • Streamlined Process: Get to alignment faster. Jeff’s efficient, no-fluff approach ensures you gain clarity and direction without sacrificing depth.

In weeks, you’ll have a strategic blueprint built for action—no fluff, no delays, just the clarity and direction your team needs to win.

Ready for a smarter, faster approach to strategy?

Jeff Shannon is your guide.