Strategic Plan’s success depends on do-able goals

Translating big picture ideas into concrete results is a vital skill of construction professionals.  That skill has come in handy when BX board members sit down annually to update the Builders Exchange Strategic Plan.

“Thinking big has never been a problem for the leaders of this organization,” said Immediate Past President Andrea Pruneau (Dorsey Construction Co.)

“But taking long-range visions and breaking them into do-able projects can be more challenging.  And yet, that has been the key to BX success in executing our Strategic Plan since it was first crafted in 1996.”

The template for the Strategic Plan used by the Exchange starts with a “very broad, futuristic vision – and works into more specific steps needed to arrive at this end point,” Pruneau said.

“Our simple format keeps our focus on a few key goals, with several action strategy ideas under each goal.  These are new projects, not part of our current stable of offerings, so we only try to tackle one or two strategies a year.”

This year, at its annual retreat in January, the BX board and staff worked with a consultant to refresh and retool their goals and strategies.

“We’ve found that, every few years, the Plan should be examined more closely and – at the project level – be rebuilt if needed,” Pruneau said. 

Taking the plan apart and looking at it, piece by piece, also helps familiarize newer board members with the big picture of the Builders Exchange, she noted.

“The board wants BX members to know that, along with our current benefits and services, the association works within a long-range framework and is looking ahead at ways to keep their membership valuable in the future.”