Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations & Results

SOAR is a strategy formulation and planning framework that allows an organization to plan its most preferred future.  SOAR takes the Appreciative Inquiry philosophy and applies it to provide a strategic thinking and dialog process. SOAR applications include: strategy, strategic planning, team building, coaching, leadership development, and strategic summits. 

Strategy is fundamental to organizational performance. The traditional approach to strategic planning is SWOT.  SOAR stands for:

In the Thin Book of SOAR, authors Jacqueline Stavros and Gina Hinrichs present a positive approach to strategic planning. They say, “Weaknesses and threats are not ignored. They are reframed and given the appropriate focus within the opportunities and results conversations. Ultimately it becomes a question of balance. Why not spend as much time or more on what you do well and how you can strengthen a strategic advantage? What gives you more energy to take action? What gives you confidence to set a stretch goal and achieve results?”

Based on the accumulating evidence in strengths-based approaches, why not apply SOAR to strategic planning?