If you’re a transformation leader, you can seamlessly integrate strategy within your unique cultural context for amazing results.
A business plan that doesn’t suit the culture of the organization is useless.
I’m designing a strategic planning workshop for a client. One of the first questions I’ve asked the CEO is to describe their culture. This allows me to guide the workshop participants to develop a strategic plan that is implementable within their culture.
You’ve probably heard the quote: culture eats strategy for breakfast (typically attributed to Peter Drucker). As a transformation leader or innovator, you need to work effectively within your culture to get things done at scale. If you can’t, then your strategy will never be implemented. So I’d add to this expression:
Culture eats strategy execution for lunch.
Tip for the week
There are many attributes that can describe your culture. Chose 2-3 specific words (only), and then base your strategy execution planning (process and content) around these characteristics.
For example, my FutureBuilders colleagues and I were supporting a client to develop their strategic plan. The client’s culture is siloed, and strongly mission driven. We centred their strategic plan on an emotive call to action, to galvanize and unify the business (the content of the plan matched the culture). It was developed with involvement of each division at different levels (the planning process matched the culture). This generated outstanding buy-in to the overall plan from the different “siloes” of the business, and they are now making good progress against their plan. (I always change details so clients cannot be identified.)
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Podcast interview
Listen to Shelley Flett’s Dynamic Leader podcast, discussing workplace culture and other implementation tips with me. Shelley is a DYNAMIC leadership trainer and coach, based in Melbourne, Australia.
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Quote of the week
“When people feel that they are able to bring their emotional truth to the workplace with leaders who are compassionate and curious rather than leaders who want the answers, that is a first building block of emotional agility.” Dr Susan David, Psychologist, Harvard.
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About Lisa Carlin
Lisa Carlin is a Strategy Execution Specialist. She works with business leaders to plan and execute their strategies in tough environments. Her clients love having her expertise and guidance to navigate their workplace culture and use AI to achieve success.
Lisa created The Turbochargers Hub, so leaders can master the art of strategic influence and generate momentum for organizational change.
Lisa is author of the globally acclaimed newsletter, Turbocharge Weekly, read by 8,000 business leaders.
Lisa’s career includes roles at McKinsey and Accenture, then running her own business since 1999. Over this time she has delivered over 50 implementations with a 96% success rate.
Written by Lisa Carlin for FutureBuilders: https://www.futurebuildersgroup.com/culture-eats-strategy-execution-for-lunch/