Strategic Inertia
Persistence is a virtue. But refusing to quit is the more common strategic error. No one wants to be a quitter. We all know it is a loser’s game. So, leaders argue with their last breath against altering their well-worn strategy. But quitting is often the winning move. I’ve written about this before, but […]
Zeitgeist Inflection
Most strategists will clock and respond to a change in interest rates or cheaper competitors. But what about a change in vibes when the customer’s desires shift? Strategy never sleeps. No matter how brilliant your plan is, small changes can undermine it. Changes come in lots of forms, some obvious, like a cheaper competitor or […]
Say No (More)
If you want to accelerate your progress toward unprecedented results, start saying no. Say no during the strategy off-site and say no after it’s over. Pet Priorities Every organization has a subset of folks who believe the current priorities are wrong—or at least lacking. To wit, they have a specific idea about what […]
You Are Here
You may know strategically exactly how and where you’re taking your organization. But that doesn’t mean everyone on your team knows how to get there. Everyone who works in an organization is perpetually trying to determine how best to get where they are meant to go. In creating and then leading the strategy, the CEO […]
The Scale-Up Squeeze-Out
There often comes a time in every high-growth start-up when new executive leadership is hired –and sometimes, they replace or displace the stalwart early team members. I’ve heard this phase called “Scale-Up” as distinct from “start-up”. When a start-up begins, it is usually one or two founders, and they work tirelessly to get things going. […]
Videos: Talking Strategy and Strategic Planning!
A Strategy Chat This post is truly unique. I am sharing a very intimate conversation with a friend—a conversation about strategy. I hope that everyone has someone in their life with whom their conversations are as winding, engaging and enlightening as mine always are with Francis. This one is wide-ranging, unscripted, unconstrained. We touch on […]
Personal Power Run Amok
People with powerful personalities can be paragons worth imitating. Or, they can be dumpster fires, burning everything and everyone they approach. If your team includes a raging fire, what do you do? And what if you are the one leaving mayhem in your wake? Those in Glass Houses For most of my life, through my […]