Strategy Signal Workshop: A Collaborative Format for Strategic Clarity in Times of Change

In an uncertain VUCA world marked by increasing complexity and constant change, strategy must evolve. It’s no longer about setting a plan and sticking to it, strategy needs to be a shared, ongoing conversation that adapts as the environment shifts. That’s the thinking behind the Strategy Signal Workshop.

This facilitation-driven experience is designed to help teams not just talk about strategy but do strategy together in a strategy design sprint style. There are many different kinds of strategy workshops that can be done in the room or virtually together. This specific process is based on tools and principles from the book Strategy Signal by the lightning decision jam creators, the workshop helps groups move from confusion to clarity by identifying signals of change and turning them into actionable strategy.

What Is the Strategy Signal Workshop?

We can customize the experience for your group and timeframe. Typically, Strategy Signal is a two-day collaborative workshop format that enables teams to:

Define a compelling strategic direction
Identify and interpret emerging signals in their environment
Explore ideas for how to respond to these signals
Align on what success looks like and how to begin

Where many workshops focus only on internal alignment or execution, Strategy Signal zooms out. It invites teams to examine the broader landscape of change—then decide together how to move forward.

When to Use Strategy Signal

According to the guide, Strategy Signal is ideal when your team:

Needs to craft a new strategy or refresh an old one
Wants to break free from reactive or siloed decision-making
Is facing market shifts, new competition, or technological disruption
Needs to build alignment across functions or departments

If your organization has tried planning sessions that felt theoretical or disconnected from real change, this method offers a hands-on alternative rooted in collaborative learning.

Workshop Flow: Step-by-Step Highlights

The Strategy Signal Workshop typically unfolds over two days and includes the following key components:
(We can connect you to expert program designers and facilitators who can also design and facilitate a shorter or longer version of this.)

Day 1

Workshop Introduction
Frame the session as a shared inquiry into “Where are we going and how do we get there?”
Where Are We Going?
Capture participants’ current understanding of the strategic direction, challenges, and external signals.
Picking a North Star
Define an inspiring, directional goal for the team to rally around.
How Will We Know We’ve Made It?
Develop measurable indicators of strategic success.
What Can We Learn from Others?
Study other organizations and ecosystems to find external signals and analogs.
How Could We Get There?
Generate potential strategic ideas and directions.

Day 2

Choosing the Best Strategies
Prioritize ideas that align with your goals and capabilities.
When Will We Make It Happen?
Assign timelines and responsibilities using a visual planning tool.
Wrapping It All Up
Consolidate insights and align on next steps.

Post-workshop follow-up encourages continued momentum and revisiting the “strategic signals” as new developments emerge.

Key Outputs

By the end of a Strategy Signal Workshop, your team will have:

A shared strategic direction (North Star)
A curated map of signals and patterns
Prioritized strategic initiatives
A timeline for action
Clear success metrics

How This Might Differ from the Foundation Sprint

While the Foundation Sprint Workshop focuses on understanding current challenges and defining opportunity areas, Strategy Signal emphasizes interpreting external change and crafting strategic responses. You might use Foundation Sprint early in an innovation process and Strategy Signal as a framing tool for strategic priorities. Both of these processes are inspired by the design sprint format from the book Sprint.

Think of Strategy Signal as the zoomed-out view: “What’s changing, and what could that mean for us?”
Foundation Sprint is the zoomed-in view: “What do we know now, and where can we create value?”

Related Strategy Tools and Resources

For organizations committed to continuous learning and collaborative planning, we recommend exploring:

Let’s Facilitate Your Next Strategy Signal

We offer facilitation and customization of the Strategy Signal Workshop to help you move from observation to action. Whether you’re planning a leadership retreat, setting a new strategy, or aligning on transformation priorities, we can tailor the session to your needs. We can recommend expert facilitators for your purpose and location.