Innovative approaches to strategic planning in the nonprofit sector using artificial intelligence (AI). The discussion, with guest Mike Burns, co-founder and CEO of StratSimple,   introduces StratSimple as a tool designed to simplify strategic planning through the use of AI, with the goal to make strategic planning more accessible and less intimidating for nonprofits. Mike starts with "about half of nonprofits don't have any strategic plan at all," a statistic that amplifies the need for simpler, more efficient planning processes.

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The informative discussion begins with assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led many organizations to abandon or reconsider traditional long-term strategic plans, with Mike commenting that "a three to five-year planning cycle just doesn't work nowadays,"  as he advocates instead for a more dynamic, one-year planning approach with a long-term vision. 

A big part of the discussion is the use of AI in strategic planning. Mike explains, "We use AI in a couple of major places. We use it to do our actual interviews and for coaching to set goals." However, he describes that while AI can automate many aspects of planning, the human element remains crucial, particularly in areas like facilitation and negotiation. 

Mike, and host Julia Patrick, also talk about the concept of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), a goal-setting framework that shifts focus from activities to outcomes. Mike describes OKRs as "a complete cultural game changer," noting how they empower teams by allowing them to figure out how to achieve the desired results rather than simply following a predefined checklist. 

This is a very informative session on the importance of strategic planning in driving nonprofit success. Mike ends with encouraging organizations to embrace new methods that are more adaptable to the fast-paced changes in today’s environment, aptly putting it, "Strategy is about saying no to the right things so that you're focused on the few."

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