ELSA Executive Strategy Session

When projects feel exposed, but it’s not yet clear why

In many projects, leadership teams begin to sense that something is not quite right.

There may be:

• early concerns from local stakeholders
• uncertainty about how the project will land locally
• a sense that the current approach may lead to delay or opposition

At the same time, internal assumptions may still reflect Decide-and-Defend habits, and there is no shared, practical understanding of:

• where social risk is forming
• what needs to change early
• who needs to take ownership

A structured leadership conversation, designed to be light-touch but high-value

The Executive Strategy Session helps senior teams step back and examine the project more clearly.

It combines:

• a short pre-call to understand context
• a tailored 2-3 hour session (online or in person) blending focused input and facilitated discussion
• mapping of where social risk may be forming in early design
• alignment on what needs to change internally

The session focuses on:

• leadership readiness
• sequencing of decisions and engagement
• ownership across the project team

You leave with clear outputs to guide next steps

Following the session, you will have:

• a concise situation assessment
• a 1–2 page summary of key insights
• a clear list of implications and decisions

The result: stronger alignment and earlier action

The session typically leads to:

• a shared leadership language around social risk and how local support is formed and influenced
• clearer internal alignment on how the project should be developed in relation to stakeholders
• improved readiness to engage constructively with host communities
• faster, more confident decision-making at key early stages

Together, these strengthen the fourth pillar of project success, local legitimacy and support, while there is still room to shape the project and its relationships constructively.

Investment

Executive Strategy Sessions typically start from €5,000.
(typical range €5k–€7.5k depending on context and preparation required)

The focus is on delivering clear insight and alignment early, where relatively small interventions can prevent significantly higher costs later.

Led by John Aston 

John, ELSA’s lead creator, has helped tens of clients over the last 30 years, from junior companies to multi-million international corporations resolve local conflicts and sustainably build projects in shared space.

He is the Co-Operating Agent of the International Energy Agency Wind Task 62 on social science and wind energy - where he also represents Ireland.

John was part of the expert team who created AA1000 Stakeholder Engagement Standards, one of the leading stakeholder engagement standards in the world.