Strategy & Change Consulting

Strategy workshops focus on these questions:

How do we achieve our goals?
Which approach is the correct one?
How do we successfully shape the future?

Management teams usually need a quick, viable and sustainable reply. With proven methods and experienced strategy consultants as moderators for your strategy workshop, we deliver reliable answers.

Strategie entwickeln? Hier kostenfreie Erstberatung: +49 (0)30 577 017 900 oder

Kostenfreie Erstberatung

The challenges in strategy workshops

Questions that are often implicitly present in strategy workshops and when working groups are supposed to develop action plans together are:

Which approach is the correct one, or which positioning in the market?
Do we just have different perspectives on the same thing or are we moving in completely “different worlds”?
How can we use our differences as a powerful resource to move forward together?
How do we turn our different perspectives into a shared strategy?

Relevant questions

In our strategy workshops, we address the following issues, among others:

What developments are in store for the company? What will be the main influencing factors to which the company will have to respond?
- What strategies have helped solve similar challenges in the past? Which ones are applicable for the future?
Which fields of action result from this?
Which goals and sub-goals do we need to achieve?
What needs to be considered during realization and implementation?

Risk of failure

Many groups with strategic tasks fail at the challenge of meaningfully bundling the different perspectives, existing competencies, and valuable experiences of employees and making them usable in a lean but effective strategy process.

“Second-best solutions”

This has consequences:

Often, the “solutions” are then based only on a “lowest common denominator” of all participants.
The result: There is no strong implementation energy among the participants. In the end, the jointly developed action plan is only implemented half-heartedly or not at all. This is a common fate of strategy processes.
Content experts from the organization are not or only insufficiently “heard” and involved.
Companies pay a high price for this:
- Valuable experience remains unused
- The results of a strategy workshop fall short of the company’s actual potential
- Loss of motivation of those involved

The next strategy process then becomes even more difficult and “tougher“.

Multi-perspectivity as a key factor

The “key” lies in integrating the different perspectives and experiential backgrounds of the various stakeholders into the strategy process and developing tailored and sustainable solutions from this.

Schedule a free initial consultation here!

Approach and Procedure

The best strategies are created when the relevant knowledge and experience carriers work together on them.

Therefore, as consultants and strategy moderators, we first clarify:

What is the context and history?
What previous experience do you have with strategy workshops?
What knowledge is already available, do you need additional external resources?
Which experienced stakeholders need to be involved?
Do we also need additional internal perspectives in order to develop the best possible solutions?
Who else needs to be “on board” for the strategy implementation to succeed later?

What is Needed for This

Experienced strategy moderators help with this

with a tried and tested “methodology toolkit”
the appropriate methods
lots of consulting and facilitation experience in strategy workshops
a feel for group dynamics and the right “timing” for finding consensus, even in complex situations with diverging interests.

Strategie-Workshop geplant, Beratung gesucht? Wir haben 21 Jahre Erfahrung!

Free initial consultation, specific to your case!

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation

Methods

In our consulting and facilitation practice, we draw on a tried-and-tested toolbox of methods to enable groups to do this,

develop a stable foundation for joint action in a relatively short time
to use the differences in groups as a powerful resource
not to see different experiences and perspectives as a problem, but to integrate them as part of the solution in a motivating joint action plan

Proven formats such as

Workshop methods with which we gradually develop strategic success factors and tailored solutions
Strategy methods of the “St. Gallen School”
a proven large group strategy format in which you develop strategic goals and action plans in large groups in just one day
Classic large-group processes such as Real Time Strategic Change or “Future Conference/Future Search”
Leadership workshops in which we work together with top management to identify strategic fields of action, develop a goal pyramid and an action plan and concrete agreements for implementation
classic strategy methods
or also parts of our comprehensive strategy framework for strategy development.

Online/virtual and “classic” strategy workshops

We offer all strategy workshops and strategy processes online/virtually and also “classically” as face-to-face events. Our online procedures are also proven and fast. Ask us for a free initial consultation!

Our strategic approach: a perfect fit!

Our strategy work is always “tailor-made”. This is all the more important in times of “VUCA”, dynamic markets and disruptive changes in the environment.

These proven strategy designs and procedures or our effective strategy model are suitable for“strategy navigation“.

Here is a brief overview:

Strategy workshop with the initio strategy model — initio strategy approach

We explain the background to our strategy model in great detail here.

Sustainable results within a short period

As you can see – we work with very different strategy methods and approaches. Depending on your starting point and objectives, the required depth of processing and the time available, we will suggest a suitable and effective approach.

In an initial preliminary meeting with one of our strategy professionals, we discuss your concerns and outline possible methodologies. Arrange a free initial free initial consultation here!

And, of course, we always draw up a coordinated action plan, specific “to do’s” and further steps.

Integrate important resources

It is important to involve the right people with the necessary “know-how”. During the preparation phase, we therefore ask questions such as:

Who has to be there so that
- so that the problem gets solved
- the really relevant issues are identified
- solutions are considered in depth
- Critics and doubters get heard
- and yet valuable results can be achieved within a short period
Do the participants have the necessary authority, resources, knowledge, expertise and genuine interest to work on the topic?
Which additional information, perspectives and points of view are also important?

With this tried-and-tested approach, we always try to involve critics and doubters in the strategy process. Very often, doubts and reservations conceal essential information that is important for the development of a viable and sustainable solution.

Benefits, advantages and effects

All-around view
All relevant perspectives from the organization are included in strategic decisions
Tailored solutions
Valuable knowledge and experiences are thus strategically utilized
Save time
Subsequent discussions, corrections, and delays in implementation are thereby avoided
Smooth implementation
Implementation occurs faster and more decisively, as all essential decision-makers and also parts of the “implementation level” were involved
Long-term effects
Practice in participation in solving strategic issues: the organization becomes “fitter” for future changes and strategy processes

Strategie entwickeln? Hier kostenfreie Erstberatung: +49 (0)30 577 017 900 oder

Kostenfreie Erstberatung

Customized strategy designs

In our strategy workshops, we adapt our approach to the previously defined goals and the respective point of departure. The group of participants also plays an important role: faster progress is sometimes possible with management teams than with employees “from the bottom ranks”.

Our strategy workshops are therefore always individually tailored to your situation.

Our experienced strategy moderators

always have “Plan B” to hand,
can react professionally to unforeseen challenges
and achieve the agreed targets in every case.

A Selection of Initio Strategy Moderators

Philip Dönhoff - initio Consultant — Philip Dönhoff

Petra Friedlaender, Consultant at initio — Philip Dönhoff

→ our Offer: Strategy Consulting and Moderation

Initio offers tailored strategy workshops with experienced strategy facilitators for developing joint action plans or providing consultation within strategy processes.

Let’s talk!

We have more than 21 years of experience and will be happy to advise you!

Book your free initial consultation. We will get in touch with you.

ENTHUSIASTIC CUSTOMER REACTIONS AND OPINIONS:

Thank you very much for the highly professional and motivating implementation of the Open Space. The feedback from the participants was consistently positive.

Thank you again for the great workshop – we have already started implementing the first suggestions and are having a lot of fun doing so.

The training was enjoyable and, above all, it advanced us, inspired us, and was fun. Thank you very much for that!

That was really good. You understand your craft!

Thank you for the great event. We took away a lot of impulses and look forward to reaping the benefits.

We have received very positive feedback about your training. Thank you very much for that!

That was a really great workshop, thank you very much!

Thank you once again for this all-around successful workshop day! We couldn’t have managed it like this without your support. The effort was worth it!

Thank you again for the great workshop – we are very happy with the outcome!

The day was extremely productive. I am very motivated to continue working with the results.

I’m always thrilled to work with professionals – Thank you very much for the goal-oriented moderation!

A big thank you for moderating the workshop. As a team, we emerged from the day with a good team spirit and a clearer picture regarding the way forward. The workshop was very worthwhile!

4-day workshop and yet: playful, creative, inspiring and structured with good methodology. Highly recommended.

Objective, constructive, optimistic – You have put us on course. Thank you to initio – I will definitely recommend you!

The DAV sincerely thanks initio for their support on this sometimes challenging journey. A mission statement of this quality would not have been possible without initio, and above all, we would not have conducted the discussion so openly. We are grateful for this impetus.

Once again, my sincere thanks for the excellent collaboration, organization, and the great results of the workshops!

We achieved all our goals and it was exactly what I had envisioned. Thank you very much!

It’s fun to work with you!

That was a very good method. We couldn’t have done it without you!

The support in the preparation and execution of our retreat was very professional and helped us greatly. We were very satisfied with the two intensive days

Everyone was very satisfied with your moderation. The agreements made together work wonders. The team workshop did us a lot of good!

It’s truly impressive how you perceive group dynamics and spontaneously guide them in a targeted manner for further proceedings during the event. We all, and I personally, really liked that.

The change management training was very good! You truly understand the subject matter in depth – it shows.

You moderated our two-day strategy workshop very professionally. The challenge was significant, and the result is very good. Thank you very much for that!

The minister’s cabinet and the department are pleased with the excellent cooperation, which is characterized by trust, reliability, and great empathy!

You were a real asset to our team development. Thank you very much for that!

I thoroughly enjoyed working with you both personally and professionally, and it was a great pleasure to conduct this workshop together with you!

Thank you for the valuable insights into your practical work and the many tips and moderation tricks that provided a lively glimpse into the implementation of methods.

The interactive conference design was really helpful in implementing our WE strategy. Through the high employee participation, we received important impulses for further implementation. The preparation was precise, and the on-site collaboration was professional and very pleasant. Thank you!

Your vigilant and well-founded moderation and inspiration have helped us tremendously. The team was also thrilled!

I have received only positive feedback about your training. The content was very relevant to practice and everyone also found the structure of the seminar very good!

I am very satisfied with the consultation. The workshop has brought us a great step forward. Thank you for that!

Thank you for the great training. You have stimulated many thought processes in me!

Her expertise received 9.5 out of 10 possible points, her teaching 8.8 and the learning atmosphere 9.7 points. Top!

Thank you once again for the truly excellent consultation! This quality is not often encountered.

Thank you very much for your great support. Thanks to your help, we have truly taken a big step forward.

We are all thrilled with your seminar. Thank you very much! I have already implemented the first impulses and I’m already noticing initial successes. I’m looking forward to trying more…

A very helpful and good workshop! The results also helped us greatly during the restructuring phase.

This was a very efficient process that provided us with valuable insights and results. I am looking forward to the further process.

Our leadership conference greatly benefited from your intensive methodical consultation and professional moderation. The results exceeded our expectations!

The Open Space format was a powerful and thoroughly successful kick-off for our change process. The ministry was also thrilled!

The team development was truly excellent preparation for our strategy retreat.

We have received exclusively positive feedback on the conference. We can work very well with the results. Thank you very much for your commitment!

initio operates in the sensitive, complex, and dynamic field of strategic consulting not only efficiently but with foresight, sustainability, and passion. The impulses from our collaboration continue to influence our daily business at Sony Music to this day.

You prepared our workshop intensively and precisely. Both the method and moderation fit very well with our objectives. We were able to continue working very successfully with the results. Thank you very much!

I received particularly positive feedback regarding your moderation. Several workshop-experienced participants reported that they came with rather low expectations and left extremely positively surprised.

I have rarely experienced processes where so much has been achieved.

I will adopt some of your methods for my own workshops.

Thank you very much for this team development process. I’m glad we booked you.

You have played a very significant role in the success of our event, because without your support, it would have been much more difficult for us to ‘sell’ your innovative approach. Thank you for that!

The seminar was very helpful and will accompany me for weeks and months to come.

Very good! 1.6 as feedback score from workshop participants – I hope we continue the constructive and very pleasant collaboration!

Your sharp analytical skills were very impressive and helpful.

I learned a great deal in your seminar. It was exactly the right mix of theory, inspiration, and practical application. Therefore, I give it 9 out of 10 points!

Thank you for these really good, efficient days! The workshop was received positively throughout.
Thank you very much for your support!

The mission statement process was straightforward and creative. A very good result all around!

4 days workshop and yet: playful, creative, inspiring and structured with good methodology. Absolutely recommended.

By your professional steering of the process, you have played a significant part in the success of the project. Thank you very much!

Thank you very much for the really helpful seminar!

A model of this quality would not have been possible without your help. The result, however, is thoroughly gratifying and is already finding its way into our daily work.

The well-prepared and professionally accompanied team event gave us valuable suggestions and insights. Together we are now implementing this in further concrete steps. Thank you very much!

Thank you for the valuable insights into your practical work and the many tips and facilitation tricks that gave a lively insight into method implementation.

Rarely received such a well-structured seminar with excellent content.

It was impressive to see how much came out of our workshop. That was outstanding!

We are more than satisfied with the result. Thanks again for doing an excellent job! We hope to continue working with you!

The method training was very helpful. We can highly recommend initio Consulting for future seminars.

After the workshops with initio, we can clearly see how we can develop and proceed further and which tasks have high priority now. Thank you very much for your support!

The strategy workshop was extremely productive. You have always kept the group focused on the essential issues. We fully recommend your facilitation!