A recent conversation with a senior manager at a large, well-respected organization stopped me in my tracks. Their organization had no clear strategic direction. Not only was there no well defined strategy, but the absence of strategy was a conscious and deliberate choice of the executive team. Which is complete and utter madness.
Strategy First, Services Second
Organizational crises take precedence. The temptation can be to react first, and act questions later. The consequence, though, is that you lose sight of what’s really important. Strategy needs to come first. Here’s why.
Be Careful What You Ask For
When we are looking for help, we often take a blinkered view, looking for specific boundaries and industry experience. That’s great for an operational role. Strategy development is a different animal. Different criteria can result in an entirely different level of effectiveness.
We Have Been Doing Strategy All Wrong
For many organizations, strategic planning is a loaded term. There is a significant disconnect between how strategic planning is viewed, and what it should be. It doesn’t have to be this way.
