One of the biggest impediments to developing credible, relevant, and useful strategic plan is the unwillingness $($or inability$)$ of agency planners to encourage a complete and candid assessment $-$ meaning the inclusion of difficult or sensitive topics that are often uncomfortable to raise $($for some$).$ Yet, we all understand that intractable, recurring problems often have root causes in an agency's organization, its operational approach, and$/$or its culture.$$Practically speaking, if you were in charge of your agency's strategic planning project, how would you ensure that difficult and sensitive issues are raised, discussed, and addressed?$$