Are You Running Projects Without a Clear Blueprint?
January 8, 2026 | By David M. Wagner
Building or updating a home requires more than just a list of projects. First, you need everyone to have a shared understanding of the blueprint.
The same is true for your team.
One of my clients realized they and their board were struggling to communicate their vision for their organization – both with each other, and with external parties.
They had recently written a strategic plan with the help of another consultant. The plan adequately summarized their current situation, goals, and long-term initiatives.
But there was something missing: clear agreement on what those goals and initiatives were for.
My client had fallen into a classic trap – putting plans (projects) ahead of strategy (blueprint). Whether or not you have a strategic plan, your team will benefit from having a clear strategy.
Let me explain.
Strategy: A Blueprint for your Organization
By “strategy” I mean a business strategy or organizational vision.
Your strategy serves as the design for your organization.
If you don’t have one already, creating a blueprint of your current organizational design can be illuminating. (I mapped out one client’s existing, convoluted governance structure. The board’s jaws dropped – they immediately realized the source of several sticky challenges.)
Other times, you might need a design for the organization you’re still building (your target vision).
Either way, your strategy serves to define who your organization is, what it’s all about, and what it does. Common elements:
Core values
Purpose or fundamental beliefs
Specific mission (perhaps a compelling hedgehog concept)
Vision statement for a better world
Business model (perhaps a logic model or theory of change)
Getting everyone on the same page about your organization’s design is essential to:
Aligning efforts across your team (programs, fundraising, marketing, administration, etc.), who now have a shared understanding of what they’re building and how their work contributes to it
Making sure everyone (yes, even your board members!) can clearly communicate your mission to partners
Making complicated decisions with confidence
Developing meaningful plans (when necessary!)
Planning: A Process for Navigating Change
Planning is a useful tool when:
Your “target” blueprint differs from your current organization design – you’ll need a plan to transition to the new design.
You’re facing a significant inflection point – for instance, if your business model needs to evolve to address growth opportunities, changing funding availability, or turnover in leadership.
Your strategy isn’t working – for example, if you aren’t achieving the mission results you expected, it may be time to step back and assess how to get on track.
Planning typically involves:
Assessing your current state (think SWOT analysis)
Identifying goals you’ll achieve in some set timeframe (maybe 3-5 years)
Choosing initiatives to realize your goals
Developing a plan of action steps to implement the initiatives
Know What You Need
So do you need a strategic plan? Maybe.
Do you need a strategy (i.e., blueprint)? I can confidently say – yes!
On a small enough team, you may not need to write it down…but you still have one. And if you don’t, things will get chaotic quickly.
The best part is that a clear strategy can be useful immediately – whereas long-term plans…well, take time to carry out.
If you’re realizing your team could use help getting on the same page about your strategy – or if you really do need a plan to navigate the coming years – let’s talk about how I can help.