In modern strategic planning, scenarios are often used to help prepare for externalities that might have an impact on the business in the future. These scenarios allow for some flexibility as you work to achieve your vision for the organization. Whether it includes offloading a planned effort or adding in […]
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If you are seeking unstoppable momentum in your organization, tying strong execution to a clarified vision and purpose will get you there. Sure enough, some people doubt the benefit of a purpose driven life or business, but an organization whose purpose is clear performs better financially, has more engaged employees […]
A strategic inflection point is a period of time when an organization must respond to changing competitive forces in the environment or face the consequences of a strategic decline. This inflection point can occur after the organization has become very successful and represents the need for the business to reinvent […]
Many organizations kick off the year by sharing their strategy with employees. This helps set the tone and vision for staff as well as to focus resources on what will be accomplished. But articulating your strategy doesn’t just happen at the beginning of the year when you send out a […]
Resilience refers to the capability to bounce back and recover in the face of challenges or setbacks. Resilience is something that can be strengthened after tough situations, but focusing on building it proactively will help to prepare you to face the future with courage. People who are equipped with resilience […]
Just because you have responsibilities associated with a career and a household doesn’t necessarily mean that you should neglect your friendships in adulthood. Friendships are a great way to develop a support network, bounce ideas off of people who care about you, and develop history that can flourish over time. […]
Frustration is the feeling of being upset or annoyed at the inability to change or achieve something. Frustration with the status quo results when you actually do want things to change (you have your own buy-in), but for a myriad of reasons, the situation cannot or does not change.
In addition to understanding the details of your business operations, it is imperative that you also make time to understand what is happening in the market and economy around you. It is often very easy to get caught up in the latest customer issue, or repair, or production requirements that […]
Setting personal goals can often seem more difficult and evasive than setting professional goals. In a work context, you may be financially incentivized or receive oversight by a manager to ensure that you achieve the goals that you outline for yourself. In some cases, goals may even be created for […]
In any organization or venture, there are resources, capabilities and activities of the firm that drive value. These “secret sauce” ingredients help make up the unique combination elements that make the organization competitive. Whether these resources provide your organization with a long-term advantage is the primary question in assessing their […]
Your Value Chain are those activities that your firm engages in as you transform inputs into outputs. There are two types of activities as part of your value chain, primary activities and support activities. Primary activities are those that are associated with generating revenue for your firm and often include […]
Your stakeholders are those people who have an interest in the performance or survival of your organization and who might influence or be influenced by your business outcomes. In the context of business analysis, organizations focus a great deal on current customers, and many businesses anchor activities to serve current […]
Clear and compelling vision and mission statements are important in the context of strategic planning. They help to provide the foundation and guide for your forward-looking efforts. Ideally, the scenarios, ideas, and opportunities that are developed and pursued in your organization are aligned with your vision and mission statements. But […]
If you are not around people who openly talk about their insecurities or fears, it can be easy to think that you are the only one who experiences feeling confused, lonely, or scared in life. As you continue to get older, you will realize that everyone is on a learning […]
There is a special skill that is required to be a true visionary. Your head has to be a bit in the clouds to dream of options beyond today’s possibilities, but you also must position yourself to ensure that those ideas are executable. There are many examples of people who […]
The year was 2006. Sheryl Sandberg, a then 37-year-old vice president at Google had just made an error that cost Google several million dollars. After she realized the magnitude of her mistake, she decided to inform Larry Page, Google’s co-founder. Even though she knew she was doing the right thing, […]
For many people, the idea of spending time on updating the organization’s vision sounds like a waste of time. It can be perceived as a “check the box” type of activity. Once it is complete, it may not be reviewed. Executives, leaders and business employees often place a much higher […]
Leading tech companies often have employees engage in innovative work as part of their weekly routines. Whether it is part of their job description or a certain number of hours per week that they dedicate to exploratory projects, this time is usually focused on helping to achieve a long term […]
That’s not spelled wrong. While “serial entrepreneurship” refers to someone who starts many new businesses in a short period of time, “cereal entrepreneurship” refers to a certain boot strappyness that was displayed by Airbnb founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia when their company was floundering. After several launches that did […]
Jack Welch stated, “control your own destiny or someone else will.” One of the key elements of survival, and adaptation, is the willingness to self disrupt.
Have you ever been at a point in your life where you know that a change is coming, but you are not sure in what direction? Perhaps your job has ended and you are actively applying for new roles. Perhaps you found out that you are pregnant but are not […]
Did you know that what happens inside your company only impacts about 55% of the overall performance of your firm? Approximately 45% of your firm’s performance can be explained by what is happening outside of your company, in your industry or by other things outside of your control. A PESTEL […]
Strategy is the work that you do now to create a positive impact for yourself or for your business in the future. It means that you are setting aside time to think about the vision that you have, align your resources towards those objectives, and execute that work. As executives […]
Speak with anyone about decisions and it’s likely that you will get an eye roll. When I was young, I could not wait to grow up so that I could finally make more decision in my life. I had the type of childhood where many of my decisions were made […]
What is purpose, anyway? A lot of people are searching for it. Human beings are wired to find purpose, and meaning, in our experiences, in our work, and in our lives. When navigating significant levels of disruption, we often work to find meaning in that, too. In short, a purpose […]