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Simplicity trumps Complexity when it comes to making things happen

Our contemporary business landscape is has increasingly swift transformations and growing complexity, driven by factors such as rapid technological progress, globalization, evolving consumer preferences, and a volatile competitive climate. Businesses and individuals must comprehend and make decisions amid a vast interconnected network of variables, often with incomplete information and under the pressure of stringent deadlines. Modern business is complex. Within this demanding environment, the potency of simplicity, especially as encapsulated in mental models, should be strikingly evident.… Read more

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A brief history of strategy in my working life

Strategy is like cultivating a garden – it requires careful planning, nurturing, and regular pruning to yield a bountiful harvest. As a seasoned business strategist with 35 years of experience, I’ve witnessed the evolution of the field and the challenges of balancing the drive for newness and complexity with the fundamentals. In this blog post, I’ll share my insights on the history of strategy, the impact it has had on the real world, and how business leaders can approach strategy to improve their performance and cultivate a thriving business ecosystem.… Read more

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Having a strategic discussion that matters

If you’ve ever been in a business meeting where the conversation turned to strategy, you know how quickly things can get confusing. Everyone has their own ideas and opinions, and it can be difficult to have an honest, productive discussion about what your company should be doing.

But fear not, there are ways to have a productive conversation about strategy without getting bogged down in semantics and conflicting viewpoints.… Read more

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What leaders get wrong about STRATEGY

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, developing a successful strategy is more critical than ever. But with so much uncertainty and rapid change, it can be challenging to know where to start. A recent McKinsey Quarterly article provides an overview of the current challenges facing companies when developing and implementing a successful strategy.

One valuable takeaway from the article is the importance of developing a clear and differentiated strategy.… Read more

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Back to decision making … this time looking at how mindsets affect decisions

When it comes to making important decisions, many of us tend to get bogged down by the weight of the potential outcomes. We analyze, overthink, and agonize to the point where we either don’t make a decision at all, or we make a half-hearted one that leaves us feeling unsatisfied.

This is where the two-way-door rule comes in – a simple yet powerful approach to decision-making that cuts through the emotional clutter and builds a bias towards action.… Read more