Big River Group

04/14/2026

Most strategic plans don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because the process takes too long, the plan is too cumbersome, and it is hard to get actions started.

Back in the late 90s, while working as a college professor teaching master’s and doctoral students, Bruce Miles was asked to lead a course on strategic planning.

“I would rather poke a pencil in my eye than teach strategic planning.”

At the time, that wasn’t an exaggeration.

Traditional planning meant:
· endless subcommittee meetings
· months (or years) of process
· wordsmithing instead of decisions
· and a final plan that sat on a shelf

But organizations still needed direction.

That tension is what led Bruce to develop Chainsaw Planning©. A faster, more practical approach to strategic planning focused on clarity, alignment, and plans that people will actually use.

Since then, this approach has been used with 500+ organizations, including schools, nonprofits, businesses, community organizations, monasteries, and hockey teams.

The goal is simple: move from discussion to direction — without getting stuck in the process.

If your organization:

· has been putting off planning because it feels too time-consuming
· has a plan that isn’t being used
· or is struggling to get people aligned

…it might be time for a different approach.

Reach out to start a conversation today!

04/08/2026

Stepping into leadership is one of the hardest transitions in any organization.

You go from doing the work… to managing people, navigating conflict, and leading conversations you were never trained for.

On April 30–May 1, Bruce Miles be leading Supervisor Advantage, a two-day, in-person workshop with the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce focused on helping supervisors step into leadership with confidence.

This program has been running for over a decade, developed in close partnership with Chamber President Matt Kilian to strengthen leadership capacity across the Brainerd Lakes community. It’s evolved over the years, but the focus remains the same: practical tools leaders can actually use right away.

We’ll cover things like:

• Managing former peers
• Stopping conflict before it spreads
• Holding people accountable without damaging morale
• Handling tough conversations

👉 Learn more and register by April 23: https://business.brainerdlakeschamber.com/events/Details/blue-ox-business-academy-2026-supervisor-advantage-1551176?sourceTypeId=Website

If you have questions about whether this might be a fit for you or someone you know, feel free to reach out.

We hope to see you there!

04/01/2026

Took a little break from posting on social media, but the Big River Group has been hard at work:

• Strategic "Chainsaw" planning & Board
retreats
• Leadership Training (groups & individuals)

Here's a recent job that was exciting to facilitate.
STAR of Coastal Georgia, Inc. Board & key staff updated the strategic plan that we created together in 2022.

Great org, great folks & a great result!

Reach out anytime! Always happy to help!

Bruce Miles, Ed.D.
Big River Group, LLC
(320) 260-2612
[email protected]

05/15/2025

05/15/2025

Thank you for the time, American Peat Technology!

02/15/2023

Check out this interesting job opening in a very cool MN school district!

The Superintendent is a great leader & has specifically chosen this as his long-term home. The district has had great leadership in the past, has a very cool location, and a host of other professionals that choose to make this beautiful location their home.

If interested, click here for more details and to apply.

Frontline Recruiting and Hiring, Applicant Tracking for Educators. Online Job Employment Applications, Web Based Employment Applications for School Districts and Educational Institutions.

10/13/2022

It was an honor working with this fine group! Great work was done and can't wait to hear what's next!

10/07/2021

It's Back!! Our Breakfast Leadership Series! 14 years and going strong!!

Have you been part of our Breakfast Leadership Series in the past? Or is this your year to be part of this dynamic program?

The coaching sessions provided me the opportunity to reflect on staff I am working with and tools to be successful with them.

10/05/2021

Are you ready for change? Loving the tip and suggestions for 'Embed and integrate “fluxiness” into organizational culture' What resonates with you?

Four strategies for leaders.

09/09/2021

Do these generational 'stereotypes' show up in you or your colleagues? What do you and your teams do to be groovy, rad, and on fleek at the same time?

To realize the benefits of a generationally diverse workforce, we need to learn how to appreciate our unique preferences, habits, and behaviors.