It’s A Process

For too many organizations, strategic planning is an event, not a process. The meeting ends with leaders strongly aligned and feeling good about the goals they have set. The “what to do” makes sense but the “how to do it” is missing and often doesn’t get done. Eventually, disappointment sets in and “dusty slide decks” get referenced. We don’t do that.

Bellrock runs strategic planning as a process – a regular rhythm with dedicated space and time to analyze performance, examine market trends, solve important problems, and plan for the future. This results in action – consistent communication of the organization’s vision, priorities, and allocation of resources (e.g., human, equipment, financial, etc.) – that guides everyone.

Imagine everyone putting their best effort into achieving a common goal. Everyone using their unique skills and talents to enthusiastically head in the same direction. It works that way in Bellrock clients.

A Bellrock notepad being used for strategic planning

Our Approach

Our proven, comprehensive strategic planning approach allows leaders to spend all of their (limited) time focused on the strategy and its implementation. Our facilitators take care of the process from start to finish so that your team can focus on the content, setting the best strategy and getting the results. While we don’t have all the answers, we can tell you where to look and hold the space for you to find them. And once found, we ensure the strategy is executable and hold you accountable to that execution one step at a time, whether you’re implementing with us or not.

  • If you’ve never formally set your strategic plan, our program is for you.
  • If you’re tired of deciding on a plan you know is the right thing to do, only to watch it get set aside for more urgent day-to-day matters, this is for you too.
  • If you’re looking to tick a box, or create a plan solely for financing purposes, the rigour in our program is overkill.

 

A management consultant facilitating strategic planning with a group of people.

What’s Included

Our strategic planning program includes everything you need to focus on your strategy without having to worry about the process. We work with you to develop a comprehensive strategic plan through facilitated annual sessions, quarterly follow-ups, and monthly advisory meetings.

Preparation

  • Leadership survey
  • Confidential employee survey
  • Confidential customer survey
  • Financial analysis
  • Education and feedback

Documentation

  • Custom pre-work and agendas
  • Strategic planning outputs
  • Tactical plans
  • Org. structure
  • Staff communication

Facilitation

  • Annual strategic planning
  • Quarterly follow up sessions
  • Monthly advisory meetings to address issues/opportunities
  • Two trained facilitators

Accountability

  • Monthly facilitation / 1:1s
  • Strategic plan audits
  • Action log reviews
  • Problem solving
  • Change management advice
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Deep Experience, Trusted By Clients

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Meet Your Facilitators

Our facilitators don’t just facilitate strategy and teach leadership principles. They regularly practice what they preach, working as consultants with business leaders and managers to drive results.

Tara Landes

Founder
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Tara Landes has been working directly with the leaders and managers of dozens of North American companies scaling their businesses and helping them build enterprise value since the turn of the century. She is the founder of Bellrock, a BC-based management consulting firm where remarkable is expected. They have been listed on the Profit W100 and Business in Vancouver’s Largest Sales and Management Training Companies. Bellrock helps business leaders solve their toughest problems. Permanently. She is also a highly sought-after speaker.

Tara earned an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business. Currently, Tara is an elected board member for Centre Bay Yacht Station and a mentor in The Forum Mentor Program. When she is not helping clients, you’ll find her on a boat in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, reading a great book while her husband and sons fish.

Gabriel Dhahan

President
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Gabriel (Gabe) Dhahan is the President of Bellrock. An experienced professional with many years working in a management consulting capacity, Gabe is known for his broad knowledge and ability to explain complex concepts and ideas. He has worked with small business and family enterprise clients in construction, food services, digital marketing, distribution, and more. He is passionate about solving tough problems and enjoys working closely with leaders to achieve lasting, valuable change.

Before Bellrock, Gabe spent several years in technology and worked for a wide variety of small businesses. He earned his MBA from Royal Roads University, is a designated Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) through Family Enterprise Canada (FEC), and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coach Federation (ICF). He serves as an FEC Ambassador, was a Project Advisor with FEC’s FEA program, and participated as a mentor in YWCA’s NextStep program.

Andrea Spiegel

Consultant
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Andrea Spiegel is a Management Consultant with Bellrock. Andrea has over 15 years of experience in operations leadership spanning multiple industries including entertainment, wellness, service, trades, and manufacturing. She excels at working with small- to medium-sized businesses to help them define long-term goals, identify gaps in current systems, and map out tangible strategies for sustainable growth.

Prior to joining Bellrock, Andrea worked in operations management roles in a variety of professional environments and has worked with multiple start-ups to scale their businesses. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) from the University of Calgary, and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Mission Possible, a Vancouver charity on the Downtown Eastside dedicated to transforming lives through meaningful work. When she’s not working, you can find Andrea in the mountains around Squamish, hiking, camping, or skiing.

Matt Wills

Consultant
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Matt Wills is a Management Consultant with Bellrock. Matt brings a diverse set of skills having worked in front line, hands-on operations and managing businesses. He has a passion for helping organizations understand their purpose, identify improvement opportunities, and implement long lasting solutions.

Prior to joining Bellrock, Matt gained management experience in agriculture, customer service, and logistics. In these roles he implemented system and process changes to improve operations and overall performance. Matt earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at Lincoln University, New Zealand. In his spare time Matt enjoys cycling, hiking, and skiing, and can be found seeking out BC’s best hot chocolate!

“We’ve been working with Bellrock for almost 5 years in a number of capacities (strategic planning, management training, process improvement, etc.). They facilitate our annual strategic planning and all quarterly reviews. They’ve been instrumental in challenging us to think strategically, drive change throughout our business, and grow our approach to leadership as we’ve evolved. The consistent rhythm of facilitated meetings every 90 days has been critical to us tripling in size in addition to the development of an outstanding team and delivery process that is differentiated from our competition.”

Julie Phillips, President + Partner, Flat Iron Building Group

FAQ

Whether you’re new to strategic planning or a grizzled veteran, you’ve probably got some questions.

How much time will strategic planning take?

The cagey answer is that planning is a process and that the process is ongoing. We know what you mean, though. Over the course of the year, you’ll probably invest five days. The first session is two full days.

Who should come to the strategic planning meeting?

As every consultant loves to say, “it depends.” An ideal planning group is no more than six people. In small companies, it could be just the leader. In large organisations, we’ve had 20 people in the room. But that requires a lot more break-out sessions. Let’s talk it through.

Seems like a lot – Is there a faster way to do this?

For sure. We know it’s complicated to change the tire on a moving car. It’s what we specialize in. There is probably a short-cut, we just don’t know how to do it and deliver results. What we can do is provide additional support in implementing the strategy so your leaders can focus a bit more on the day-to-day once the strategy is cast.

Is strategic planning applicable to small business?

In small business there is a lot less room for error. Decisions around what to do, how to price it, who to hire (and when)…these can literally be the difference between failure and success.

Is small business strategic planning the same as in a large company?

No. The focus and process of strategic planning changes in a smaller organization.

Why use an outsider to facilitate our strategic planning meeting?

Doing it yourself may seem like a good way to save a few bucks. However, companies often struggle to get value out of their strategic planning because they:

  1. Lack expertise in how to create a strategic plan.
  2. Don’t have the time to spend on preparing for and organizing the strategic planning process.
  3. Get stuck trying to facilitate conversations while participating in them.

Great facilitators allow companies to focus on the actual content rather than the process, and bring useful frameworks and a valuable, outside perspective.

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Organizations that make strategic planning a top priority also enjoy the greatest benefits from it. Our approach is designed to help you develop the best strategy AND equip you with the tools to execute it. Not sure if it’s the right approach for your organization? Let’s chat.

Include any relevant details (e.g., company information, focus areas, challenges/opportunities, etc.) or questions you’d like us to consider in advance.

“Since having gone through the strategic planning process with you, it’s easy to see how many other groups have not been through such a process and how it holds them back and fractures their ability to move forward.”

Scott Hawthorn, Chairman/Co-Founder, Native Shoes

Related Case Studies

Wondering if strategic planning with Bellrock works? Let our clients tell you.

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Consulting

We make change stick. Our management consultants work shoulder-to-shoulder with you and your busy team to identify improvements, implement solutions, and let the benefits flow.

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