Big Picture Project

The “big picture” represents an executive’s strategic vision for their pool. If staff and governing bodies understand the pool’s big picture, they can be more effective in the current state and can maintain continuity through any executive transition, whether expected or unexpected.

The Big Picture Project is a pooling-specific exercise to help pool executives clarify and articulate their particular strategic visions. Follow the instructions below to get started. You can also read how you can use the Big Picture Project to support your pool.

Steps for Pool Executives

  1. Watch the introductory video above for an overview of the project and recommendations from Executive Director Ann Gergen and Succession Planning Resident Steve Trautman on how to use the Big Picture Project in your pool.
  1. Download the Big Picture Project slide deck, which includes questions and potential answers relating to your individual big picture.
  1. Edit the deck so the written answers accurately reflect your pool’s big picture.  

  1. Send us your first draft for feedback. If you have specific questions about any of the tasks or how to best articulate your answers, let us know.
Remember: The measure of success is that everyone in your pool can articulate this commonly understood strategic vision just as well as you.

Question Videos

As you begin work on each slide, watch the corresponding video for guidance on the question(s) being asked and tips for completing your customized responses.

What is our pool’s core purpose or function?

What are our products and services? 

To whom do we deliver these products and services? 

With whom do we partner to deliver our products and services? 

What metrics do we track? 

Who are our competitors? 

What external trends or issues are important to our strategy? 

What relevant history explains our current state? 

What are the top three things our pool is doing to support our strategy? 

AGRiP Presentations

Executive Succession Planning Tips for Pool Governing Bodies (June 2021 AGRiP webinar presented by Steve Trautman)

Emergency Succession Planning (Aug. 2020 AGRiP webinar presented by Steve Trautman); see associated presentation slides

Steve Trautman

2020–21 Succession Planning Resident

As Succession Planning Resident, Steve Trautman helps pools adequately plan for succession of key organizational leaders and transfer knowledge that’s critical to pool operations. To do this, Steve uses his experience as a talent risk management expert and his practical, data-driven ideas on knowledge transfer. Steve is the principal and founder of The Steve Trautman Co. and has written three books, including Do You Have Who It Takes? Managing Talent Risk in a High-Stakes Technical Workforce.