Improving strategic thinking
Change projects help us look at the world differently and think differently. This calls us to improve our ability to think, individually and collectively.
Guide
Encouraging Strategic Thinking Worksheet
A guide for prompting strategic thinking for organizations.
Jude Kay
Curriculum
Ways of Knowing (Theory of Knowledge)
Here's an academic crash course into some simple concepts that can help us think more strategically.
TOK Resource
Framework
Ladder of Inference: How to Avoid Jumping to Conclusions
This structure may help turn everyday inquiries into decision and actions.
Mindtools
Video
Cognitive Dissonance
Learn about the complex topic of “cognitive dissonance,” and how people deal with it.
Social Psych Online
Framework
Growth Mindset Infographic
Explore how our mindsets lead us to certain responses and results.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Tools & Resources
Visioning Toolkit
A helpful toolkit for leaders and consultants with a valuable series of articles and best practices for facilitating visioning with teams and organizations.
Social Transformation Project
Guide
Midwest Academic Strategy Chart
This guide may help you develop strategies to address virtually any organizational issue.
Midwest Academy
Strategic planning
When starting a project with a new team, the first item we always ask for is their strategic plan. The stronger the base of a strategic plan, the stronger a foundation for learning.Framework
Strategic (And Successful!) Planning
This framework may help optimize your strategic planning process.
Just Works Consulting
Toolkit
Strategy and Planning Toolkit
This toolkit may help you with effective strategic thinking and ultimately with strategic planning.
Rockwood Leadership Institute
Guide
VAST Strategic Campaign Plan Outline
VAST: Vision, Assessment, Strategy, Tactics. This document is helpful in thinking through a strategic campaign plan.
Bending the Arc Strategies
Framework
VAST Integrated Campaign Model
VAST: Vision, Assessment, Strategy, Tactics. A useful model for strategic planning.
Bending the Arc Strategies
Emergent strategies
We are grateful for Adrienne Maree Brown’s work on emergent strategy, and have found it a useful starting point for many projects.article
Creating Breakout Innovation
Understand why and how to move toward open, crowdsourced, user-driven strategies, also known as co-creation.
Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR)
SWITCH PATHWAYS
We move through change each day – it is a constant in our lives. These are the building blocks of sustainability for living in this moment and throughout the long road ahead.
Visit this pathway 
There can be a deep sense of urgency for change that drives us to action before we have fully aligned our purpose and outcomes. This can lead to disruptions, unnecessary conflict and ultimately failure of our plans. Here are valuable guides for aligning intention and action to save energy, resources and time.
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To make change in our society, we need to understand the fundamentals of how decision making happens, in our teams, through our social identities, and in our systems of power.
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Work for diversity, equity and inclusion achieves lasting impact when we orient our energy towards structural change and integrate structural change tools into our programs and operations. This pathway provides support for analyzing structures and transforming them for justice.
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Breaking the status quo and opening up new possibilities for equity and freedom in our work requires innovative experiments. Teams must ensure that all members have the ability to act on the vision and goals they are co-creating.
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Our minds cannot move toward racial justice, equity or transformation if our bodies are not prepared for change. This pathway offers those preparations that we have found most beneficial to adult learning.
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Explore the interviews, frameworks, templates and articles created and published by Up With Community.
Visit this pathway GROW COMMUNITY
Giving thanks: We share these resources with gratitude to all of our teachers and with appreciation for the value they have brought us.
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