Case Study: Facilitating Strategic Alignment at Zarach
Overview
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When Zarach’s Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team wanted to build stronger relationships, deepen organisational understanding, and align around a future strategic direction, CEO Andy Peers turned to Charlie Brown Leadership (CBL) for expert facilitation and agenda design.
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CBL created a tailored, insight‑driven Away Day that helped the organisation accelerate decision‑making, strengthen collaboration, and finalise a strategic plan within weeks.

The Challenge
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Zarach’s leadership recognised the need for dedicated time and space to:
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Connect more deeply across the Board and Senior Leadership Team
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Develop a shared understanding of the organisation’s current position
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Build confidence and alignment around future plans
The CEO also needed to participate fully in the session rather than facilitate it himself and sought independent feedback to support ongoing organisational development.
Our Approach
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CBL partnered closely with Andy and the Co‑Chairs to design a high‑impact agenda tailored to Zarach’s goals.
Planning focused on:
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The strategic plan being developed by the Senior Leadership Team
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The experience and confidence they wanted participants to leave with
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What needed to happen on the day to empower the Senior Leadership Team and build Board support
The facilitated Away Day created space to:
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Strengthen relationships and build mutual understanding across the Board and Senior Leadership Team
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Enable the Senior Leadership Team to present priorities and gather meaningful Board feedback
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Support the Board in making key decisions linked to the strategic plan
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Reflect on how people were feeling at key moments throughout the day

CBL’s independent facilitator played a crucial role in navigating difficult moments - highlighting when discussions became contentious and guiding the group to re‑prioritise agenda items as needed. This flexibility ensured the day focused on the issues that mattered most.
The Results
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Within weeks:
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The Board approved a refined strategic plan, enabling the Senior Leadership Team to launch it with the wider Senior Management Team
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A key area of concern was further explored by the CEO and a designated Trustee, resulting in a well‑developed proposal ready for Board approval

The CEO reflected that CBL’s facilitated approach enabled significantly greater progress - both in developing and supporting the strategic plan and in navigating difficult decisions - than would have been possible otherwise.
Impact​​
CBL’s expertise not only helped Zarach sharpen its strategic direction, but also strengthened trust, communication, and alignment across its most senior leaders.
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The Away Day became a catalyst for:
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More cohesive leadership
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Faster decision‑making
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Stronger ownership of the organisation’s future direction

Testimonial​​
“I first met Charlie when she facilitated an ACEVO workshop and, alongside the clear expertise in the subject and evident quality of the preparation, was impressed by Charlie’s calm, reassuring and personable approach.
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I felt that all these qualities would be ideal to support Zarach’s board & leadership team away day, as we sought to build existing and new team relationships alongside gaining clarity on a new strategic plan and board development.
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Both in the commitment to the planning and preparation for the day, and the bringing of those personal qualities to the team, Charlie led us through a purposeful and productive day, from which we have been able to keep building on since.”
Andy Peers
Chief Executive Officer



