Discover three practical steps nonprofit leaders can take to cut through the chaos, regain focus, and move forward with purpose.
A Leader is Not a Wanderer
In times of uncertainty, when resources are stretched thin and teams feel overwhelmed, strategic planning often gets pushed aside. Many nonprofit leaders tell me, “We just don’t have the time right now.” But in my experience, this is precisely when strategy is needed most.
Caspar David Friedrich’s famous painting, Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, is often misunderstood. Many assume the figure is lost in the fog, but in fact, he has climbed above it to gain perspective. In the same way, nonprofit leaders facing heavy workloads must rise above the chaos to gain a clearer perspective. When immediate tasks threaten to consume all attention, gaining this higher perspective is what creates clarity and purposeful action.
Why Strategy Matters in Uncertain Times
Uncertainty is not the enemy of strategy—it’s the reason we need strategy. If the future were inevitable, we would only need plans. However, a strategy provides direction when the path ahead is unclear.
Too often, nonprofits engaged in urgent, high-stakes work—such as immigration rights, housing, education, and environmental justice—get caught in reactive cycles. The social problems are real and pressing, but without a clear strategy, organizations risk staying in “firefighting mode.”
That’s why I encourage leaders who may not be ready for a full strategic planning process to start with three practical steps that bring clarity, even in the most chaotic times.
Three Practical Steps for Clarity in Uncertain Times
- See the Social Condition
- Step back and define the broader social condition your organization is working to change. Without this clarity, it’s easy to get consumed by urgent demands that don’t address the root causes. Naming the social condition gives your team perspective and focus.
- Lead with Mission and Customers
- Your mission is your anchor in the storm. It should be a clear and succinct narrative that explains how your organization is addressing the social condition. Revisit it and ask: Who are our primary customers—the people we exist to serve? Who are our supporting customers—the stakeholders who enable us to serve? When you’re clear on both, you can make better decisions about where to direct limited time and resources.
- Direct Energy with SWOT Interplay
- When everything feels urgent, it’s hard to know what to do next. The SWOT Interplay Analysis is a practical approach to cutting through the noise and transitioning from tactical firefighting to strategic clarity. Unlike a basic SWOT that treats strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in isolation, the interplay approach examines how these factors interact:
- Investment strategies – When strengths align with opportunities, the organization can grow and expand its impact with confidence.
- Defend strategies – When threats challenge strengths, the organization must protect its strong positions from external pressures.
- Decide strategies – When weaknesses intersect with opportunities, leaders must determine whether to invest in building capacity, partner with others, or step back.
- Risk management/divestment strategies – When weaknesses combine with threats, the organization should minimize damage or exit areas where risks outweigh potential benefits.
This process elevates the analysis from a one-dimensional list to a framework that highlights the strategic issues and directions your organization should prioritize now.
A Mindset Shift: Strategy as a Capacity Builder
Understandably, many nonprofit leaders feel there’s no room for planning when they’re already stretched thin. But in reality, not planning costs far more time and energy. Strategic thinking is not a luxury—it’s a capacity builder.
It reduces stress by clarifying what matters most. It strengthens accountability by connecting actions to your mission and the people you serve. It builds resilience by helping your organization adapt to changing environments.
Closing Thoughts
As Friedrich’s painting reminds us, leadership is not about wandering in the fog. It’s about rising above the chaos, surveying the landscape, and making intentional choices. Nonprofit leaders who embrace strategy in uncertain times are not just reacting to crises—they’re actively shaping the future.
If your organization feels caught in the whirlwind, now is the time to pause—not to slow down, but to rise above the fog and move forward with purpose.
Schedule a call with us to discuss how Najera Consulting can guide your organization’s strategic planning and help you achieve greater social impact
