Is Your VBA Self-Sabotaging Its Strategy?
What Smart Leaders Miss—and What to Do
Before Your Next Planning Session
Why Strategic Planning Fails
(Even When
Smart People Are in the Room)
Iʼve been in just about every seat around the bar association table. Iʼve served as president of a voluntary bar association, chaired a major substantive committee of The Florida Bar, and sat on the Board of Governors for the Young Lawyers Division. Iʼve advised brand-new VBAs getting off the ground, helped restructure a multimillion-dollar trade association, and worked with leaders from statewide groups to international legal networks.
That variety is important—because when I say most planning sessions donʼt work, itʼs not a theory. Itʼs what Iʼve seen firsthand.
This guide is about more than “planning.” Itʼs about unplanning whatʼs not working. Itʼs about seeing what youʼve normalized —and why that might be exactly whatʼs holding your organization back.
Chapter 1
Best Practices in Strategic Planning
START WITH THE MISSION, NOT THE MOMENT // INVOLVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE EARLY // DEFINE OUTCOMES, NOT JUST ACTIVITIES // KEEP IT AGILE // BUILD IN ACCOUNTABILITY FROM DAY ONE
Start with the Mission, Not the Moment
Planning based on “what should we do this year?” leads to scattered efforts and exhausted volunteers. The better question is: What problem are we still here to solve?
Mission-driven planning builds traction that translates into retention and revenue.
If youʼre stuck in event-mode or calendarthinking, letʼs fix that.
Letʼs talk about how to anchor your strategy in your purpose.
Involve the Right People Early
Plans created in silos get shelved fast. When leaders and skeptics help frame the right questions—not just approve answers—you build trust, engagement, and staying power.
Want to surface the real issues before the room gathers? Hereʼs how that works.
Define Outcomes, Not Just Activities
“Host a judicial reception” is an event. “Deepen trust with the judiciary to protect member professionalism” is a strategic goal.
Need help turning your to-do list into actual goals? Book a strategy call
Need help turning your to-do list into actual goals? Book a strategy call
Keep It Agile
A plan frozen in time becomes irrelevant fast. Agility is what turns a plan from static words into a dynamic tool.
If your plan doesnʼt flex, it wonʼt grow with your members. Letʼs fix that.
Start your flexible framework with a quick call.
Build in Accountability from Day One
Strategy fails without ownership. Attach names, dates, and resources to every priority.
Need help getting past “whoʼs supposed to do this?” Letʼs make your plan real.
Chapter 2
Strategic Sabotage
THE FIVE TRAPS THAT UNDERMINE EVERYTHING
THE LEGACY LOOP // STRATEGIC THEATER // THE ECHO CHAMBER THE DEI DISAPPEARING ACT // GOAL HOARDING
The Legacy Loop
When past presidents steer from the back row, strategy becomes a rerun.
It sounds harmless—honoring what came before, building on traditions, continuing the good work.
But when strategic direction is overly influenced by prior leadershipʼs pet projects or personality-driven goals, progress stalls.
Want to honor legacy without repeating it?
Hereʼs how we balance tradition with traction.
Strategic Theater
When planning is more about optics than action.
Youʼve probably seen this play out. The board retreats, the flip charts come out, and thereʼs a beautiful deck by the end of the weekend. But six months later? Nothingʼs changed.
Letʼs stop planning for appearances and start leading for outcomes. Book a call to exit the theater.
The Echo Chamber
When the loudest voice wins, the best ideas get buried.
When boards rely on “the usual suspects”—oicers, senior members, or whoever speaks the loudest— the plan becomes predictable.
Break the echo loop. Use anonymous tools, small- group facilitation, and neutral leadership to uncover whatʼs really needed. Letʼs turn volume into value.
The DEI Disappearing Act
When inclusive language is surfacedeep. Many associations include DEI goals in their plans, but few restructure power or budget to match.
Make DEI real. Assign owners. Fund the work. Share power.
Want help turning values into outcomes? Letʼs talk.
Goal Hoarding
When committees compete instead of collaborate.
Committees hoard goals like resources, oicers hold projects close, and collaboration becomes competition.
Real strategy is cross-functional.
Book a discovery call
Chapter 3
What Strategic Courage Looks Like
Real strategy is uncomfortable. It asks leaders to change how they lead—not just what they do.
For voluntary bar leaders, courage looks like:
1
2
3
Courageous leadership creates growing organizations.
Reallocating gala-level budgets to long-term member development.
Ending projects that no longer serve the mission.
Sharing influence with new voices—even if it means a quieter year for your own agenda.
Start leading with courage. Schedule a call.
Case Study
How One Association Broke Through 10 Years of Flat Growth
The Florida Justice Association had hovered around 2,800 members for nearly a decade— despite strong leadership and good intentions.
Using my ARCHER method and facilitated strategic planning, they gained clarity, structure, and alignment.
Result:
3,000+ members within one year.
That growth was sustainable and compounding, leading to increased revenue from both dues and non-dues sources.
This is what happens when you stop planning around personalities and start building around purpose.
Your Next Planning Session Checklist
Are we planning for the mission, or just the moment?
Are our goals specific, measurable, and mission-driven?
Who owns what—and when will we check in?
Who helped shape this plan —and who was left out?
What are we willing to stop doing?
If your board canʼt confidently answer these questions, I can help. Book a discovery call now.
About the Author
G.C. Murray II, Esq., DPL is a nationally recognized attorney, executive coach, and former voluntary bar president.
Heʼs worked with associations of all sizes —from grassroots networks to multimillion-dollar trades—and served as the closing keynote for the Florida Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference.
Known for his direct approach and mission-first mindset, G.C. helps legal leaders plan strategically, govern effectively, and lead with courage.
Why You Shouldn’t Do This Alone
Even the most well-intentioned boards canʼt spot their own blind spots. Internal dynamics, groupthink, and legacy habits sabotage results.
An outside facilitator isnʼt a luxury— itʼs a multiplier.
My method uses anonymous input and asynchronous focus groups to uncover tensions that traditional sessions miss.
That means less surface talk, more strategic clarity—and a room thatʼs aligned before you ever sit down.
If your facilitator isnʼt doing this prep work, youʼre paying for a recorder— not a strategist.
I can help you plan with clarity—and grow with confidence.
Book a discovery call now.
From Insight to Impact: Your Pre- Planning Session Clarity
Checklist
To help visionary leaders and decision-makers critically assess their current mindset, behaviors, and strategy blind spots before entering their next Vision, Beliefs, and Actions (VBA) planning session.
Self-Awareness
Pulse Check
Instructions:
Take a moment to reflect. Mark each statement as:
Yes – true and aligned Not Yet – needs work
I understand how my personal values are influencing our organization's direction.
Iʼve recently evaluated whether our mission still matches our impact goals.
I regularly seek feedback that challenges my assumptions not just confirms them.
Iʼm clear on the dierence between busy-ness and strategic progress.
I know what success looks like for this upcoming planning session and what it should look like.
The questions you avoid often hold the key to your next breakthrough.
Ready to Lead with Clarity and Courage?
If this e-book sparked some realizations or even raised some uncomfortable but necessary questions, you’re already one step closer to transforming your strategy from surface-level to deeply aligned.
Here’s what you can do next:
Reflect Intentionally
Revisit the Clarity Checklist before your next planning session. Use it as a mirror—not a performance test. Leadership starts with honest alignment.
Letʼs Connect
Want to explore how to turn your teamʼs insights into action?
I offer private consultations and strategic facilitation for leaders who are ready to go deeper.
Email: gc@association.law
Website: association.law
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gc2esq
Share the Shift
If this e-book resonated with you, share it with a colleague or leadership peer. Great leadership becomes even greater when it's shared.
Let’s move from auto-pilot planning to purpose-driven progress. You're not just a leader, you're a culture shaper.
Let’s make it count.
Email: gc@association.law
Website: association.law
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gc2esq
