strategy – Page 4 – Reimagine. Strategy.

August 9, 2021February 5, 2024

A Strategic Race

Did you become as addicted to watching the Olympics as I did?

Two things stood out to me as I marvelled at the athletes’ accomplishments; I trust their relevance extends far beyond Athletics to those of us involved in less competitive or visible pursuits:

Athletes were clear on their goal. There was a moment when the first runner across the finish line was featured on the screen, just as an enormous “Woot!” could be heard behind her. It was one of her competitors, celebrating enthusiastically. That runner barely made it onto the television coverage, but she was rejoicing over a Personal Best with far more gusto than the gold medallist. She knew what she was going after.

Continue reading “A Strategic Race”

June 7, 2021May 3, 2022

The Gift of Less Collaboration

“Just tell us what to do.”

I am usually a fan of co-created decisions and strategies. But these days, I’m not so sure. I’ve already told you I’m a collaborative strategist who doesn’t enjoy group work. Now I’m becoming a collaborative strategist who’s advocating a less collaborative approach to strategy making. What is going on here?! Continue reading “The Gift of Less Collaboration”

October 19, 2020May 3, 2022

Sightlines Under Stress

Strategizing in a time of uncertainty is difficult, partly because we often think planning requires some measure of ability to predict what will happen in the future, and right now our crystal ball is very much broken.

I would suggest that while staying aligned with an unpredictable context makes strategic planning challenging, the process is less about clairvoyance and more about conviction.

And here’s where things get tricky right now. Continue reading “Sightlines Under Stress”

May 11, 2020May 3, 2022

Show up how you want to end up

A ten-year study of how Italy’s 15 largest cities weathered the global financial crisis of the late 2000s found that organizations’ decision-making styles before the collapse largely matched their styles during and after the crisis. Those that did formal strategic planning continued to do so. Those that used an incremental, ad hoc planning approach did so before and after. Those whose approach was described as “inertia” before fell into that same category after.*

Plus ça change…. Continue reading “Show up how you want to end up”

April 6, 2020May 3, 2022

Can we plan at a time like this?

Photo credit: Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

I hesitate even to write the word “unprecedented.” But these times really are. We’ve been radically disrupted and shaken to our core. And the ride isn’t over yet.

Is it even possible to think about planning at a time like this, when our previous plans seem irrelevant and our ability to predict the future with any certainty seems non-existent? Not to mention the fact that we are busy, distracted and exhausted? Continue reading “Can we plan at a time like this?”