Strategy Is Scary
Choosing among the universe of possible options is scary. Every choice involves saying no to some possibility. But without clear choices, there is no strategy. Most organizations have no strategy. That probably sounds like a huge exaggeration. I promise you, it is not. I don’t mean that they lack goals. Usually, they have lots of […]
AI and Strategy- Video
In this conversation Francis Wade and I talk about what means to activate strategy for employees—and whether AI can help to do that. Click the image below to view.
Wicked Strategy
Game-changing strategy is never certain since it applies to the unknown future. Feedback may be slow, and its meaning unclear. So, how can you learn fast enough to fix it? Strategy shouldn’t be a gamble. Yet it has a lot in common with high-stakes poker. Both exist in a wicked learning environment where feedback isn’t […]
Energy From the Future
Whether explorers or entrepreneurs, the greatest source of energy and genius is the image of the distant new world we are creating. Most of us know that it takes time and perseverance to achieve real excellence. Yet, many organizations strategize for the short-term. They focus on the next economic or market milestone but never look […]
Which Hard Problem?
There are lots of hard problems to solve. But choosing the right one to tackle during a strategic quagmire is hard. You need a wide-angle lens and a microscope. Every organization must choose which problems to solve now, later, and … maybe never. Often, the temptation is to go for the easiest win. And there […]
Resilience Trumps All
Startups aim to accelerate execution and grow fast. But when conditions change, they have no strategic reserves. A resiliency strategy pays dividends. Organizations tend to focus on increasing efficiency and productivity. So, once a strategy is designed, we aim to execute fast. But if every person and penny is dedicated to speed and growth, what […]
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 […]
Southwest’s Strategic Shipwreck
Here’s how a company dies. Not with a bang, but with a baggage fee. Southwest Airlines, every MBA’s favorite case study in strategic disruption, has abandoned everything it once embraced. In August, I wrote about their descent, and asked how far they would go. We now know. They went all the way. There is […]
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 […]
Subtraction in Action
Reducing your strategic focus to only a few key projects is the best way to accelerate your progress. But while it sounds good, doing it for real is hard. Let’s say you are the Founder of a growing start-up, and six weeks ago you had a strategic planning retreat. Somehow, you left with a […]