Developing strategy is a process of deciding on the trajectory an organisation needs to take to avoid its default future – which is the place it will end up if it takes no action other than that currently planned. It involves deciding the strategic intent – which is what an organisation aims to become or achieve – and the trajectory …
Good Strategy Aligns the WHAT, the HOW and the WHO
If the essential purpose of strategy is to change the trajectory of an organisation, from one taking it to its default future to one that leads to an improved future, there are three aspects that need to be aligned. These are the WHAT, the HOW and the WHO. Not only do they need to be aligned when the strategy is …
Virtual Roundtable – Summary of Discussion on The Power of Collective Leadership
The aim of the Beyond Default Roundtable discussions is to give experienced practitioners in strategy and change an opportunity to share their experiences, challenge conventional wisdom, brainstorm ideas and network with peers who have the same interests and challenges. In August 2021 a group of executives, consultants and academics met virtually to discuss the power of collective leadership. The discussion …
When It Comes to Strategy Are You a Hedgehog or a Fox?
Is your approach to strategy to apply one big idea that you’ve been developing for some time, or do you consider many ideas – or a combination of ideas – that you think may be relevant? If you’re the former, according to Isiah Berlin – the British social and political theorist, philosopher, and historian of ideas – you’re a hedgehog. …
Do You Have a Strategy or a Plan – And What’s the Difference?
The words strategy and plan are often used interchangeably. People talk about their ‘plan’ or ‘strategy’ as if they were the same thing and some, in an attempt to make their plan more important, call it a ‘strategic plan’. The reality is that a plan and strategy have very different meanings: they are based upon different decision criteria and contain …
Virtual Roundtable – Summary of Discussion on the Impact of Exogenous Forces on Strategy
The aim of the Beyond Default Roundtable discussions is to give experienced practitioners in strategy and change an opportunity to share their experiences, challenge conventional wisdom, brainstorm ideas and network with peers who have the same interests and challenges. In May 2021 a small group of invited executives and consultants met virtually to discuss the impact of exogenous forces on …
Your Strategic Context is Defined for You, Not by You
In early 2020 the context of the majority of the world’s population, and millions of businesses across the globe, changed. The exogenous force that caused this significant context shift was, of course, COVID-19. It was a context shift that no one foresaw, nobody wanted and no one was prepared for. While governments struggled to respond and health services became overstretched, …
The Myth of the Hero, Individual Leader
In this podcast New Work Revolution’s Brandon Allen interviews David Trafford about the challenges facing leaders today. The conversation focuses on David’s view that the traditional model of leadership, which is based upon the individual leader, is no longer relevant in today’s increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, and that today’s challenges and opportunities require greater collective leadership. …
What Is Collective Leadership And Why Is It Important?
When we’re asked the question “why are some organisations better at strategy and change than others”, without hesitation we always answer “because they have greater collective leadership”. It’s simply because we’ve seen this type of leadership in organisations that are more successful at strategy and change, than in those that aren’t. We’re then often asked “which organisations are these?”. The …
The Essence of Strategy
Much has been written about strategy, and no doubt more will be written in the future. However, the many thousands of articles, academic papers and books that have been written on the subject have done little to increase the chances of organisations finding the key to sustained success, particularly in today’s increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. While …