We were gathered in a very large conference room to start strategic planning for the next 3 years. The people in the room were appropriately spaced. Others could be seen on a massive screen from different locations around the country. The room had numerous mics so all could be heard and there was a screen just for sharing related documents.
As the process began, there was active engagement and dialogue by all involved. At times, I felt like a traffic cop facilitating a rush hour discussion. Subjects and issues were popping up all over the place.
Finally, the CEO paused the discussion and said, “What is the problem or problems we are trying to solve here?”
There was total silence as everyone paused to reflect. I just smiled because it was one of the best questions I had heard in 2021.
From my vantage point, the main strategic question for the next 3 years is a simple but very challenging one: How do we recover from a global pandemic? When we can answer this question, we can chart a path to the future.
To begin finding the answer, we have to understand that there are 3 stages of recovery when facing adversity. According to Judith Herman, a psychiatrist and a professor of clinical psychiatry at the Harvard University Medical School, the 3 stages of recovery are:
- Safety and Stabilization
- Remembrance and Mourning
- Reconnection and Integration
This week, pause and reflect on the above question. Then, figure out where you and your organization is within the 3 stages. It is time to think deeply and holistically before we plan for the future.
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