Prepared Minds Ready to Innovate!
08/19/02
In a study of over 80 companies, Eric D. Beinhocker And Sarah Kaplan found that strategic planning is not working as well as planned. They found that few executives think this time-consuming process pays off. However, the researchers did find that the process can be valuable if the meetings focus on two major goals. "The first is to build 'prepared minds'-that is, to make sure that decision makers have a solid understanding of the business, its strategy, and the assumptions behind that strategy, thereby making it possible for executives to respond swiftly to challenges and opportunities as they occur in real time. The second is to ensure that strategies are carried out in an innovative manner."
Why are so many CEOs upset with the strategic-planning process? It yields too few new ideas and is often fraught with politics. But two things from this research ring true for change agents--to make strategic change work, you need prepared minds that are focused on business strategies, and you teams with the ability to adapt to innovative opportunities that emerge from that strategic focus.
It may very well be that the most beneficial result of strategic planning is a thorough understanding of direction and why that direction is important to the organization. The time put into dotting the '"i's" and crossing the 't's" may lock people in to limited opportunity, but the time building commitment and understanding helps leaders make strategic change a top priority.
The challenge for leadership is to then make sure that they do not become overly enamored by the specific solutions they point to on the horizon. New unseen opportunities will emerge. Better understanding will close doors and open others. Leaders need to drive the direction, and be open to the opportunities that will surface.
What are you doing to empower your team to take advantage of those opportunities and to help shape the course of the organization you deliver on the constantly changing dream?
MONDAY'S MIRTHFUL MOMENT
Loren Ekroth supplies this week's mirth--some Cellphone Slang worth using! Enjoy trying to use these with some of your friends and colleagues:
Cell Pat: The amusement when a group of people desperately pat their cell phones when a single phone rings
Cellmudgeon: A person who is chronically annoyed by cell phones and their users
Cellibate: One who does not own or use a cell phone
Cellout: One who breaks down and buys a cellphone
Dead Ringer: the melody of a dead composer used in place of a traditional ring
Dialogus interruptus: a cell phone interrupting a live conversation
Bermuda cell-angle: a cell phone free zone where no coverage exists
When you keep your eyes open for mirth, you just may find it! Hope this kicks off your morning and helps get your mood adjusted for the week. Now, get busy MAKING CHANGE WORK and have some fun along the way!...