Running an online strategy day
For a clear direction, wide support and a team that's genuinely involved.
An active format
Online strategy sessions work — provided they're properly designed.
Rather than have people watch presentations passively, let them contribute actively to the outcome. From framing the question to the shape of the programme and the design of the interaction: with a background as strategy consultants, we help with content, form and technology.
Sustainable and within reach
No travel time, no venue costs: participants from several offices or countries simply log in. Online strategy days scale without the logistical headache.
Participatory and involved
A real conversation about goals, existing plans and new directions. With good questions, smart formats and collaboration tools such as Miro.
Inspiring and purposeful
With the right set-up you get sharp, focused sessions with strong output. Online can work very well indeed, as long as it is well designed. That's our craft.
In practice
Three examples. Years of experience.
Trade association80 members set the course together
A large representative body wants to hold part of its strategy programme online without losing depth. We design plenary sessions with brainstorms and prioritisation. The result is a widely supported, thoroughly substantive multi-year plan.
MultinationalFive offices, one roadmap
A multinational with teams in five countries wants to build towards a clear strategic foundation. We run five online sessions with facilitation on the content and guidance on form and technology. The result: one central basis for development, with clear room for local differences.
Non-profitAn annual plan in one day, entirely online
A non-profit team of 50 wants to settle its business plan in a single day without meeting in person. A compact, creative programme makes that possible. The result: a day people talk about for a long time, and a plan the whole team stands behind.
Preparation is everything
Who it's for
Executive teams, management layers, programme managers
Group size
10-100 participants
What a successful running an online strategy day needs.
01
A clear strategic goal
What has to be decided or settled by the end? Without a clear goal a strategy session becomes a conversation rather than a direction.
02
Meeting design that makes decisions possible
Not only presentations, but formats that genuinely contribute: prioritisation rounds, break-outs per theme, plenary synthesis. How the day is built determines what comes out of it.
03
Guidance on technology and content alike
A good moderator keeps the pace, makes room for every voice and steps in when the group gets bogged down. That's the difference between a good conversation and a clear decision.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an online strategy day take?
An online strategy day usually runs for half a day (3 to 4 hours) or a full day (6 to 8 hours). Which works best depends on the number of topics, the depth you're after and the size of the group.
How many people can take part?
We run online strategy days for 10 to 100 participants. In groups of every size we work with break-out sessions and interactive formats so that everyone can contribute actively.
Which formats do you use?
That depends on the purpose of the day. We work with break-out conversations, interactive canvases, World Café, Open Space, prioritisation sessions, voting rounds and decision-making formats. The format always follows the question, never the other way round.
What does MeetingMasters do during an online strategy day?
We help design and facilitate the programme, we handle the technical production and we guide speakers, workshop leaders and participants. That way everyone in the group can contribute as fully as possible and focus entirely on the content and the decisions that have to be made.
How far ahead should we book?
For an online strategy day we advise allowing at least three to four weeks of preparation. For larger programmes or complex agendas, six to eight weeks is often better.
What does an online strategy day cost?
The investment depends on group size, preparation, programme and the level of support you want. That's why we always make a proposal built around your case. Just get in touch.
More answers?Fewer answers
Can an online strategy day also be hybrid?
Yes. It's possible to run an online strategy day as a hybrid. It does ask for careful design, though. Simply adding a camera and a screen doesn't work here. We design programmes so that both groups, the people online and the people in the room, can take part on equal terms.
Which software do you use?
We always go for interactive platforms, because engagement is essential to a successful strategy day. We have experience with Zoom, Zoom Events and Teams. But for a strategy day we'd gladly show you SpatialChat as well — often exactly the bit of extra interaction that gets decision-making moving. What fits best depends on your goal and your group.
How do participants prepare?
Participants receive clear instructions beforehand. Sometimes we also ask them to submit input in advance, so the available time is used to the full. Ultimately every session is a junction in a longer journey. We build on that.
Does an online strategy day work for executive teams?
For executive teams in particular an online strategy day can work well. The online environment makes it easy to work together in a focused way, to bring in experts and to capture results immediately. And executive teams too are sometimes ready for something other than the traditional Teams meeting. We actively make use of that.
Can you help with decision-making?
Yes. Many strategy days aren't only about gathering ideas but also about making choices. With well-trained facilitators we use formats that help set priorities and reach decisions together.
What happens after the strategy day?
The results are captured and shared clearly. If you want, we also support follow-up sessions or the further working out of the choices that were made.
Related event formats
This might fit too — or even better.
The whole organisation together: open, transparent and professionally produced.
Running an online town hall
An open conversation between leadership and staff — transparent, live and genuinely involved.
Running an online all-hands
Creative sessions that genuinely produce ideas, even with everyone at a distance.
Running an online brainstorm session
Professional conferences for large groups: interactive, sharply produced and open to everyone.
Running an online conference
Next step
Online, but not as you know it.
Orientation
See what we do
From strategy day to online team building — see which event formats fit what you're after.
View all events →Interested
Feel the difference
20 minutes to see how a platform like SpatialChat does something Zoom and Teams don't.
Book a tour →Ready to go
Book a conversation — we'll think it through with you
No obligation. We look straight away at your situation, your group and what it needs.
Book a conversation →