LIVING STRATEGY PROCESS 

WHAT THE LIVING STRATEGY PROCESS IS

The Living Strategy Process is a proven and structured way of creating strategy that combines leadership with broad organizational involvement. It brings people into the work without creating chaos or slowing progress, using a clear framework that moves step by step from insight to alignment to an actionable plan.

The outcome is a visual one page Strategic Gameplan that makes the strategy easy to understand, easy to use and easy to track throughout the full strategy period. It shows direction, priorities and strategic moves in a format that helps everyone stay aligned and focused.

Because the process is involving, it creates strong ownership, higher engagement and a shared understanding of what the strategy means in practice. This makes execution far easier, since people feel connected to the choices and committed to bringing them to life.

WHAT MAKES THE LIVING STRATEGY PROCESS DIFFERENT

The Living Strategy Process stands out because it combines involvement with structure and flexibility. It enables broad input without losing control of the process, and it turns strategy into something people use, not something they receive.

High involvement with no loss of direction
The process brings people into the strategy work in a controlled, structured way that enriches insight and builds strong ownership. It is up to the executive team to decide the level of involvement – and the more people who take part, the stronger the effect. Leadership keeps the direction, while the organization contributes the knowledge needed to shape a strategy that truly works.

A clear step by step framework
The process follows a proven sequence from insight to direction to priorities and execution. This prevents the drift and confusion often seen in traditional strategy processes.

A visual one page Gameplan
The concrete output of the process is a visual Strategic Gameplan. It makes the strategy easy to communicate, easy to anchor and easy to follow throughout the full strategy period.

Built on behavioural insight
The process is designed around how people actually adopt change. It strengthens alignment, reduces resistance and builds a shared understanding across functions, departments and levels.

Designed for execution
The outcome is not only a strategy but a system for keeping it alive. Clear priorities, strategic moves, ownership and rhythms support execution that flows naturally.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKS

The Living Strategy Process follows a clear and proven flow built around four phases: Mobilize, Harvest, Articulate and Activate. The executive team participates in all phases, while broader organizational involvement happens primarily during Harvest and Activate. The process moves forward through a series of well designed workshops that either run for half a day or a full day. These sessions are structured to enhance collaboration, strengthen alignment and activate the Collective Genius of the group. 

The entire process can be completed in 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the desired level of involvement and the organisation’s readiness.

1. Mobilize – Prepare and Align
We define the scope, gather essential insight and align the executive team on intention, expectations and boundaries. This phase sets the foundation and prepares the organization for an involving yet structured process.

2. Harvest – Involve and Understand
People across different levels and functions contribute insight through carefully designed involvement workshops. All this input and ideas is the basis for the next phase. 

3. Articulate – Shape and Decide
The executive team consolidates the input and makes the strategic choices. Direction, priorities and strategic moves are defined and translated into a clear one page Strategic Gameplan. This phase turns insight into a coherent and actionable strategy.

4. Activate – Anchor and Execute
The organization is involved again to anchor the strategy, clarify roles and set up the rhythms and routines that make execution flow. Teams understand what the strategy means for their work, and ownership becomes widely shared.

Together, these four phases create a powerful and structured journey from early insight to a living strategy that guides daily action and enables smooth execution.

WHO WILL BE YOUR FACILITATORS

Welcome to Brainwells, where innovation meets expertise, and leadership transcends boundaries. Founded and nurtured by the duo, Kristine Maudal and Even Fossen, Brainwells is rooted in their profound leadership expertise and passion for corporate success.

For over 10 years, we have devoted ourselves to developing, testing, and delivering what we proudly term the Brainwell's Leadership Systems. This holistic system embodies effective and engaging leadership principles for leaders, executive teams, and organizations, seamlessly delivered both in live workshops and digitally.

Today, as mentors, advisors, and facilitators, we extend our expertise to numerous top executive teams and their enterprises, both within Scandinavia and across international borders.

Our guiding principles revolve around the cultivation of Involving Leadership and the incredible potential of 'The Collective Genius'.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE - CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS

A Living Strategy Process delivers real impact when a few fundamental conditions are secured from the start.

Commitment from the CEO and Executive Team
Anchoring at the top is essential. The executive team leads the process, makes the key choices and sets the tone for involvement. Without clear commitment here, the process will not achieve its full effect.

Practical readiness and the right workshop environment
Workshops are usually held in external meeting facilities to ensure focus and remove daily distractions. The room setup must follow our criteria so we can work effectively and support collaboration throughout each session.

Planning and time allocated for workshops
All workshop dates for the full process must be set in advance and protected in the calendars. Participation is mandatory for all involved, and each person must be present for the entire workshop slot. This consistency is crucial for co-creation and for keeping momentum strong.

WHAT YOU GET

A Living Strategy Process delivers both concrete strategic outputs and powerful organisational effects. Together, they create a strategy that is not only clear on paper, but alive in the organisation. 

A visual one page Strategic Gameplan
Your full strategy captured on a single page with clear direction, strategic priorities and key moves. This becomes the organisation’s shared roadmap for the full strategy period.

A complete documentation report
A thorough summary of all insights, involvement input, strategic discussions and decisions made throughout the process. This creates transparency and gives the organisation a valuable reference point.

Strong ownership and alignment
People understand the strategy, feel connected to it and take responsibility for bringing it to life.

Higher engagement and energy
The involving approach builds motivation and commitment across levels and functions.

Less silo thinking and better collaboration
Teams gain insight into each other’s challenges and priorities, strengthening cross functional cooperation.

Improved team spirit
Participants develop a stronger sense of shared purpose and collective direction.

A deeper understanding of the organisation
The process gives leaders and teams a broader and more accurate picture of the organisation’s strengths, dynamics and opportunities.

BENEFITS AND IMPACT

For the Executive team

The strategy is built on insight from across the organization, which raises the quality of decisions and strategic choices. Because the direction is verified and supported by the organization, confidence in execution increases and friction is reduced.

For teams and employees involved

The process creates a united view of what is important and where to focus. People gain a broader understanding of how the organization operates and how to prioritize. It also reduces silo thinking and strengthens relationships across functions.

For the organization

The strategy becomes something that truly lives in daily work, with the one page Gameplan as a shared tool for alignment. The process strengthens culture around direction and accountability and builds a habit of working together on what matters most.