Think Strategically – Ask Tough Questions

Jan 21, 2020 | Strategic Planning

One of the questions I’m initially asked by a new strategic planning client is, “How will we know what we’re supposed to focus on with our new plan?” Well, the easy answer is, “You’ll focus on what you need to focus on,” but the more appropriate answer is, “You’ll focus on what your answers to some critical questions tell you to focus on.” Now you may be thinking, “Those sound like a couple of non-answers and they don’t sound strategic at all.” In reality, my ‘appropriate’ answer is what...

Strategic Planning – Understanding Strategic Versus Operational

Aug 20, 2019 | Strategic Planning

We’re now in the midst of the traditional strategic planning season. Given that, we’re partnering with several organizations whose planning teams are working hard to outline a clear, focused path forward for their respective organizations. For leaders who have previously experienced the strategic planning process, this process can be frustrating, stimulating, demoralizing, and energizing all at the same time. However, for leaders who struggle to comprehend the need to define and capture new...

Are Your Customers Outgrowing You?

Apr 16, 2019 | Strategic Planning

Hmmm. Another customer just selected a competitor for their next project. That’s the third time that’s happened this quarter. Like the others, you thought you’d worked well with the customer. So why didn’t this customer choose you again? It must be the new CFO that joined their company last year. She’s probably forcing them to use new vendors. She obviously doesn’t care about maintaining successful working relationships. It’s obvious she only cares about saving money and not the value of...

Stay True to Your Plan

Mar 19, 2019 | Strategic Planning

It’s been a few months since you and your team put the finishing touches on your organization’s exciting, challenging, and let’s be honest, pretty amazing strategic plan. So what’s happened since you all high-fived one another and ‘finished’ that project? Have you moved the plan forward? Have you focused on it each day? Has it become a guide for your leadership and team actions? Or, have you already lost sight of what you and the team determined was needed to strategically move your...

Need to Communicate a Change Initiative? Model the 2018 Golden Globe Awards

Jan 9, 2018 | Strategic Planning

I speak, consult, and coach on leadership so I don't typically comment on awards shows. I also don't typically comment on awards shows because, honestly, I can't stand to watch most of them. I typically only make it through the first award or two and by then I'm tired of the glam, glitz, platitudes, and rambling political or activist comments of the winners. So, I leave the room or turn the channel. This year's Golden Globe Awards show was different. Because we'd all heard this year's Golden...