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Published October 04, 2012 at 09:09 PM

The Power of a Great Annual Planning Facilitator

4 min read
The Power of a Great Annual Planning Facilitator
1:29
4 min read
The Power of a Great Annual Planning Facilitator
1:29

Key Takeaways

  • Annual Planning is one of the most important things you and your executive team will do; it sets the stage for the next year and usually holds the most difficult and necessary strategic discussion.
  • An outside facilitator frees up the CEO's brain for strategic thinking, because it is tough to facilitate and participate at the same time.
  • Annual Planning is where a professional facilitator delivers the most value, since all of the coming year's quarterly planning sessions refer back to the Annual Plan.
  • An outside party keeps the team and discussion focused, removes the drama from heated discussions, and can ask tough questions that would be emotionally charged coming from a member of the team.
  • A good facilitator walks the team through a "Won't Do" list as well as a "To Do" list, a step vital for a focused Annual Plan that most teams miss when running the session on their own.

Annual Planning is one of the most important things you and your executive team will do each quarter. It sets the stage for the next year and is usually the session with the most difficult (and necessary!) strategic discussion.

Here are some advantages to bringing in some outside help:

  1. Free up your brain. As CEO, it's tough to both facilitate and participate. Free up your brain for more strategic thinking and have someone else worry about the projector, schedule, and content.

  2. Get the most bang for your buck. Annual Planning is the time to get the most out of your investment in a professional facilitator. All of your quarterly planning sessions for the upcoming year will refer back to your Annual Plan. Invest in getting it right.

  3. Stay on track. Keeping the team and the discussion focused is largely a function of the facilitator. Having an outside party there to bring things back into focus removes the drama from what might be a heated discussion.

  4. Ask the tough questions. Brutal facts are easier to face with the support of someone with an outside perspective. The facilitator can also ask tough questions that might be emotionally charged when asked by a member of the team.

  5. To Do or Not to Do. A good Annual Planning facilitator will also talk the team through a "Won't Do" list as well as a "To Do" list. This is vital for a focused Annual Plan, and it's a step that most teams miss when they do the session on their own.

Tool Kit | Facilitate an Annual Plan CTA

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why hire an outside facilitator for annual planning?

Annual Planning sets the stage for the next year and usually involves the most difficult and necessary strategic discussion your team will have. An outside facilitator keeps the discussion focused, handles the logistics, asks the tough questions, and guides the team through steps most groups miss on their own.

Can the CEO facilitate the annual planning session?

It is tough to both facilitate and participate. Bringing in outside help frees up the CEO's brain for more strategic thinking, while someone else worries about the projector, the schedule, and the content.

When does a professional facilitator add the most value?

At Annual Planning. All of your quarterly planning sessions for the upcoming year will refer back to your Annual Plan, so this is the session where you get the most out of your investment in a professional facilitator. Invest in getting it right.

How does a facilitator handle heated discussions?

Keeping the team and the discussion focused is largely the facilitator's job, and having an outside party bring things back into focus removes the drama from a heated discussion. Brutal facts are also easier to face with the support of someone with an outside perspective, and the facilitator can ask tough questions that would be emotionally charged if asked by a member of the team.

What is a "Won't Do" list in annual planning?

Alongside the "To Do" list, a good Annual Planning facilitator talks the team through a "Won't Do" list, the things the team explicitly decides not to pursue. This is vital for a focused Annual Plan, and it is a step most teams miss when they run the session on their own.
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Tiffany Chepul
Tiffany is a Rhythm Consultant who helps leadership teams turn ambition into execution. With a strong foundation in sales and public relations, she brings both strategic clarity and real-world communication expertise to every engagement. Tiffany specializes in building high-performing Think Plan Do Rhythms that align teams, sharpen focus, and drive purposeful growth. She’s passionate about helping organizations move faster, stay accountable, and achieve meaningful, measurable results.
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