Business can be hard! Often, we have great foundations, but it is easy to get off track.

In a constantly changing landscape, strategies that worked yesterday may no longer be effective today. If you’re not careful, you can find yourself drifting off course and your team can unknowingly be working against you. Create a forum to hear their insights and feedback, and give them real buy-in to the process.

The Strategy Reset Playbook is a simple but powerful agenda I use all the time when running strategic workshops with teams. The idea is to create the space to step back, reflect, and reset.

Most businesses already have solid fundamentals and a clear vision, so there’s no need to reinvent everything; a reset is often enough.

Built on the basics of all good strategic plans – now, where, how and why – the workshop gives teams time to get aligned and walk away with a practical, energising plan for the future.

Watch below to learn how to run the workshop. To see the full agenda, keep scrolling!

 

 

why a “reset” matters

 

Businesses often wait until a crisis to pause and rethink their strategy. But a reset doesn’t have to be reactive – in fact, the most successful companies use resets proactively. Whether it’s responding to growth, market shifts, leadership changes, or simply fatigue, a reset can:

  • Re-energise your team and sharpen focus
  • Highlight opportunities you’ve been too busy to see
  • Remove unhelpful habits and replace them with clarity
  • Strengthen alignment across the leadership team
  • Create actionable plans [not just another document]

 

the 6 steps of the Strategy Reset Playbook

 

Here’s the agenda and framework I use most often to help businesses reset their strategy:

 

 

1. intro + objectives

 

Do not skip this step!  Time invested here pays off at the end of the workshop.

 9.00 – 10.00
a.      Start by setting the tone. Get the leader of the business to introduce the day and why they organised it. Then ask everyone: Why are we here? What do we want to walk away with today?

Importantly, write this on a piece of butchers paper and keep it visible on the wall throughout the day.

15 mins
b.     Icebreaker: There are many options here, but I often use conversation starter cards. Randomly get team members to choose one and go around the group to answer the question. 15 mins  
c.      Check-in on personality profiles [I use MBTI] to create an awareness of how people may show up during the day. 25 mins  
d.     Feelings quickfire round. 5 mins  
 

2. where are we now?

 

Get real about the current situation. What’s working? What’s not?

 10.00 – 10.45
a.      Use the Good, Bad + Ugly exercise. Summarise the top themes on butchers paper and keep it visible during the workshop. 30 mins  
b.     If the workshop is a small group of stakeholders, use the 5 Drivers tool. 15 mins  
This is a good time for a morning tea break [they usually need it by now]. 20 mins  10.45 – 11.05
 

3. where do we want to go?

 

Shift the focus forward. What’s the vision?

 11.05 – 12.30
a.      Feeling Affinity Maps 25 mins  
b.     Magic Wand [if we could wave a wand and fix 3 things tomorrow, what would they be?] 30 mins
c.      Heatmap of the fundamentals [values, purpose and vision]. 30 mins  
Lunch time, ready for a big afternoon session [encourage people to talk over lunch about what they have learned]. 45 mins 12.30 – 1.15
 

4. how do we get there?

 

Now it’s time to map the path. Break goals down into one-page action plans. Assign accountability by person or division [this is where the rubber hits the road].

 1.15 – 3.00
a.      Use the 3 Russians Brothers + their Cousin exercise on the key themes from the earlier Now and Where sessions. 1 hour  
b.     Document the outcomes in a Step Plan. [Not sure how to setup a Step Plan? Watch the how-to here, and download the Step Plan template here. 45 mins  
Afternoon tea break [As the facilitator, use this time to collect your thoughts and summarise findings into the Step Plan mentioned above]. 20 mins 3.00 – 3.20
 

5. what will get in the way?

 

Every plan has roadblocks. Address barriers early and get commitment to the actions agreed.

 3.20 – 4.10
a.      Present a summary of key themes and actions in the Step Plan. 30 mins  
b.     Identify barriers to success. 10 mins  
c.      Assess your team’s change readiness. 10 mins  
 

6. wrap-up + next steps

 

Finish by checking in with the team.

 4.10 – 4.30
a.      Reflect on the objectives set at the beginning of the day. Did we achieve them? 10 mins  
b.     Feelings round: a quick check on how people are feeling and what they’re taking away. 10 mins  


why this works

 

The Strategy Reset Playbook works because it balances structure with flexibility.

There’s enough of a framework to keep the conversation focused, and enough breathing room for the real issues [the ones people don’t usually say out loud] to surface. That’s where the breakthroughs happen.

 

need a hand?

If you’re ready to realign your strategy and want to walk away with an actionable plan, we’re here to help.

We can facilitate a Strategy Reset Workshop tailored to your team and help you leave with a clear plan. Reach out to me at j.knight@businessdepot.com.au or give us a buzz on 1300BDEPOT.

 

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