We use OKRs as our guideline for creating goals (more on that linked here).

Our strategy sessions are always interactive and run by the whole team – we divide and conquer – so no one is running a monologue all day putting people to sleep.

Last year we did an exercise called “How, Now, WOW!”. The team (12 investment professionals) threw out any and every idea they could think of, be it a new investment idea, a technology need, staffing needs, research themes. We then organized those ideas into buckets of How, Now and WOW!.

• How: idea that will take more planning and organizing to implement; can we even implement it?
• Now: easy to implement now.
• WOW!: innovative or game changing idea that requires more thought and planning to implement.

After grouping all of our thoughts, we were able to identify common denominators and focuses for the year.

The team used these focus areas to come up with their own individual goals, to help achieve the team goals.

We make it a point each year to have our strategy session offsite to get out of a normal routine. We did the Nasher Sculpture Center one year, the Brain Performance Institute another year. I try to think outside the box when looking for venues and add an educational element into our day.