A Success in City Government

How a facilitated event helped a team of staff establish clear plans for the benefit of their city

In April, I facilitated a strategic staff retreat for the City of San Juan Bautista at the serene Saint Francis Retreat Center. I used SOAR (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results), a framework rooted in Appreciative Inquiry that focuses on what’s working well and how to build on it—unlike SWOT, which emphasizes problems. Staff showed up and engaged deeply in discussion about the strategic direction of their city.

Last month, City Manager Ashley Collick let me know that she and her team used the SOAR analysis outcomes to guide strategic proposals, which were later approved by the City Council.

This is a powerful example of how engaging staff benefits everyone involved. By tapping into their knowledge and experience, the process supported leadership and ensured clear communication with governing bodies. It nourished a staff culture of collaboration, learning and trust. Most importantly, the facilitated engagement allowed the staff’s passion for their community to translate into actionable changes that will directly benefit residents.