Skip to main content

Good strategy is making a choice and meaning it

I’m often asked to talk to groups and to lead workshops on strategic thinking. (I even get paid for it occasionally). In a nutshell, here’s what I say:

Clearly define your offer and how to fulfil it
  • For the customer, investor, supplier and employee
  • What, why, when, how, where, who?
  • What not, why not, when not, how not, where not, who not?
Keep it simple
  • Consistent, coherent, understandable, doable, communicable
  • Simpler is easier, less risky, concentrates resources for maximum impact
Do it!
  • Put in place the people, resources and priorities
  • Build the processes, organisation, culture and style
  • Dedicate people to make change happen
  • Do the stuff you decided to do
  • Cut out the stuff you decided not to do
  • Fix problem causes before clearing backlogs
  • Measure, report and communicate progress on the strategy (up and down, in and out)
Think and act for greatness!

Simple, really. Any questions?

First posted April 17th, 2007 and, even if I say so myself, worth repeating again and again and again.