Thank you if you’ve registered for our express masterclass on August 19th, Planning Your AI Strategy Execution. You’ll get an express update on the AI developments that matter for business leaders, and a 90 day roadmap to implementing AI in a Culture-Friendly way.
Meanwhile, this week let’s take a look at how a Culture-Friendly Approach can actually make a strategy more executable.
The Issue with Culture
Strategy that sounds good in the boardroom often fails on the ground. Not because the thinking is wrong, but because the strategy process ignores how things actually work in organizations. Culture is not the last step to consider after a strategy is signed off. It is the foundation you build on. Even if your current culture isn’t optimal (see my article in the AICD Company Director Magazine here).
Our Culture-Friendly Approach treats culture as the starting point:
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We use current culture to shape the process of developing business strategy.
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We use current culture to inform the change management plan.
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We use current culture to set up and guide project execution.
When strategy is built with culture in mind, we accelerate implementation and see visible, measurable ROI and innovation.
The Turbochargers ApproachTM
Moving Strategy out of the Dark Room
A CEO I worked with a while back had inherited a complex growth strategy from his predecessor. The strategy work was thorough and logical. But progress was stalling. When we reviewed what was happening with a culture lens, we could see the culture was steeped in a history of risk avoidance and blame for when things went wrong. Yet the strategy called for innovative practices, and bold, fast decisions. The culture and the strategy were at odds.
Instead of starting from scratch, we moved the strategy “out of the dark room” into a more open strategy process. The change management shifted to focus on developing new behaviours to support innovation. Project governance was revised. Within 3 months we started to see a big improvement in buy-in and follow through. More pull than push. Traction and confidence returned across the leadership team.
With a pull approach, there is more momentum towards our goals
3 Tips for a Culture-Friendly Approach
1. Co-create strategy don’t just communicate it
Use an open strategy approach. Involve key stakeholders early, it shows respect and builds buy-in. As you start to develop strategy, assess the organisational culture and design a change approach that fits it.
2. Use cultural resistance as strategic intelligence
Instead of pushing harder when resistance shows up, pause and listen. Resistance is often revealing. Use it to better understand the mindset, behaviours and informal rules that shape how work gets done. Then adapt your change approach accordingly from a push to a pull approach.
3. Align program governance with how your culture operates
Governance is not one size fits all. Set up strategy execution architecture in ways that match how your organisation’s operating rhythm. The more natural it feels, the more momentum you will create.
A Culture-Friendly Approach does not mean that strategy is democratic. It means designing strategy that respects people, and develops buy-in. When you align business strategy, change and governance with how people actually work, you create the conditions for real progress to achieve your strategic goals.
“Treat employees like they make a difference and they will.”
Jim Goodnight, Co-Founder and CEO of SAS (Net worth: US$12 bilion)
PS More Ways to Accelerate your Strategy
Looking to move your strategy forward? Lisa Carlin works with selected clients directly to go from strategy to plan to result. Email Lisa.
A bespoke in-house Bootcamp is the fastest way to learn. Get the skills your leaders and teams need to go from Strategy to Plan to Results. AI optional. More here.
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About Lisa Carlin
Lisa Carlin is a Strategy Execution Specialist. She works with business leaders to go from strategy to plan to result, in tough environments. Her clients love having her expertise and guidance to navigate their workplace culture and use AI to achieve success.
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.
PPS Planning your AI Strategy Execution
What I share in these emails is a small fraction of the ideas that will turbocharge your strategic projects. If you want to stop drifting on the AI strategy in your business, and move faster, this masterclass is for you.
Join me live for one focused hour session to help you plan and execute AI with real momentum.
Live one hour AI Masterclass on Zoom 19 August 2025