--- title: "Case Study: Strategic Workshop - Senior Leadership Transition" description: A case study of an executive workshop. image: https://rev0.org/hubfs/Feature%20Image%20-%20Case%20Study_%20Strategic%20Workshop%20-%20Senior%20Leadership%20Transition.png --- [![Black-1](https://rev0.org/hubfs/Logos/Black-1.png)](https://rev0.org) - Services - [Overview](https://rev0.org/services-overview) - [New Manager Foundations](https://rev0.org/new-manager-fundamentals) - [Leadership Coaching](https://rev0.org/leadership-coaching) - [Group Coaching](https://rev0.org/group-coaching) - Library - [Articles](https://rev0.org/articles) - [eBooks](https://rev0.org/ebooks) - [Videos](https://rev0.org/videos) - [Recommended Reading](https://rev0.org/recommended-reading) - [Newsletter](https://rev0.org/subscribe-to-the-rev-0-newsletter) - [Speaking](https://rev0.org/speaking-and-workshops) - Rev 0 online - [Course](https://rev0.org/diy-manager-foundations) - [Member Login](https://www.rev0.online/) [Contact Us](https://rev0.org/contact-rev-0-consulting) Strategy # Case Study: Strategic Workshop - Senior Leadership Transition A case study of an executive workshop. [Dain Johnson](https://rev0.org/articles/author/dain-johnson) Jun 6, 2022 ---   ## Challenge The client, a mid-sized, privately held architectural and engineering firm, was in the midst of significant changes to its executive leadership. There was a lack of shared vision and direction. The client requested a workshop to bring together eight participants from ownership and the C-Suite, to align on a shared vision and to solve four specific issues:   - A CEO and ownership transition - Challenges aligning around the role of COO and the responsibilities of that position, - Difficulty hiring and retaining top talent, - Unsustainable workloads and difficulties delivering work that met quality and schedule expectations.    ## Solution To address the issues, we designed a participant-centric approach to problem-solving using appreciative inquiry and action learning. The approach included discovery interviews, a two-day workshop, and an executive summary report. The discovery interviews allowed us to meet each participant in advance and hear directly from them what they hoped to achieve during the workshop and their most significant concerns. The discovery interviews informed the design of the structured, two-day offsite workshop where we led the participants from vision to action. The two-day workshop included four broad focus areas: vision and values, leadership roles, tactical problem solving, and leadership norms. The agenda allowed us to adjust as we sensed the participants' level of engagement, capability, and willingness. **First**, we facilitated a discussion related to a long-term vision and corporate and personal values. ([Learn how we connect Vision to Action](https://rev0.org/articles/post/from-vision-to-action))  **Second**, we conducted a roles and responsibilities exercise, in which all participants were able to voice their expectations of each of the leadership roles. **Third**, we introduced a fast-paced approach to complex problem solving and guided the group through solving real issues. **Fourth**, we clarified the leadership norms and practices that they all agreed were necessary for their future performance. We adjusted the last day to add a dedicated discussion on messaging because they identified this as a root cause of many of their tactical challenges.     ## Outcome The workshop results were summed up by one of the participants, who said,    **“We were all on the same page; we just didn’t know it.”** At the end of the workshop, the incoming CEO expressed his willingness to take on the new role and designed a practical succession plan for his current role. All participants publicly supported this plan.   Participants had open and honest dialogue regarding the COO role, and they clarified their expectations of the COO. The incoming CEO committed to working more closely with the COO. The client adopted the problem-solving techniques we introduced as a way to improve their own meetings.   Download a PDF copy of this case study here: [Case Study - Strategic Planning Workshop](https://rev0.org/hubfs/Case%20Study%20Strategic%20Planning%20Workshop.pdf)   [Strategy](https://rev0.org/articles/tag/strategy) [Leadership](https://rev0.org/articles/tag/leadership) ## Similar posts How-To ### [Use SIPOC to Right-Size Your Work \[Free Tool\]](https://rev0.org/articles/use-sipoc-forms-to-simplify-your-workflow) Learn how SIPOC forms can help you fight perfectionism and improve collaboration. Dain Johnson Sep 10, 2024 Management ### [Invert Your Org Chart for a Fresh Perspective on Leadership](https://rev0.org/articles/invert-your-org-chart-for-a-fresh-perspective-on-leadership) Explore the practical implications of this shift in perspective and learn to apply it to your company leadership for a stronger, more resilient... Dain Johnson Apr 1, 2024 Management ### [What's your leadership style? Start with your strengths.](https://rev0.org/articles/post/leadership-style-starts-with-strengths) Leadership style is as unique as the person holding the title. Research indicates you'll be most effective when you build on your strengths. Dain Johnson Mar 20, 2023 ### Subscribe, and we'll send great tools and insights straight to your inbox [**CLICK HERE**](https://rev0.org/subscribe-to-the-rev-0-newsletter) if you'd like occasional emails on being a great manager or supporting the managers in your organization. ![Rev 0 Logo orange reserved](https://rev0.org/hubfs/Logos/Rev%200%20Logo%20orange%20reserved.png) Rev 0 LLC 2625 Redwing Rd, Ste 120 Fort Collins, CO ### Services - [Overview](https://rev0.org/services-overview) - [Manager Foundations](https://rev0.org/new-manager-fundamentals) - [Leadership Coaching](https://rev0.org/leadership-coaching) - [Group Coaching](https://rev0.org/group-coaching) ### Resources - [Articles](https://rev0.org/articles) - [Videos](https://rev0.org/videos) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCST4vjK5SMnmat_xAyyvj9g) - [Newsletter](https://rev0.org/subscribe-to-the-rev-0-newsletter) ### Rev 0 Online - [Member Login](https://login.circle.so/sign_in?request_host=www.rev0.online#email) - [DIY Manager Course](https://rev0.org/diy-manager-foundations) ### Company - [The Coach](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dain-johnson/) - [Client Testimonials](https://rev0.org/client-testimonials) - [Speaking](https://rev0.org/speaking-and-workshops) - [Contact Us](https://rev0.org/contact-rev-0-consulting) - [Careers](https://rev0.org/operations-and-client-success-coordinator) Illustrations by [Storyset](https://storyset.com/) [Powered by Atlas - a B2B SaaS HubSpot theme](https://www.kalungi.com/atlas-hubspot-theme-for-b2b-saas-software) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dain Johnson", "url" : "https://rev0.org/articles/author/dain-johnson" }, "dateModified" : "2024-02-02T22:04:03.627Z", "datePublished" : "2022-06-06T06:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Case Study: Strategic Workshop - Senior Leadership Transition", "image" : [ "https://rev0.org/hubfs/Feature%20Image%20-%20Case%20Study_%20Strategic%20Workshop%20-%20Senior%20Leadership%20Transition.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://rev0.org/articles/post/strategic-planning-workshop-1", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://rev0.org/hubfs/Logos/Orange.png" }, "name" : "Rev 0 LLC" } } ```