Reduce Friction to Accelerate Strategy Execution

This week I’m experimenting with AI multimedia for my keynote talk at a Tech Sales conference. What do you think of my digital twin?

Have you registered yet for our express masterclass on August 19th, Planning Your AI Strategy Execution? It will be particularly useful for leaders wanting to fast-track AI strategic projects – according to McKinsey, only 20% have produced value to date. Meanwhile, this week we’re looking at stakeholder friction.

Reduce Friction in Your Strategic Projects

Friction is everywhere in strategic projects. Stakeholders disagree. Sponsors go quiet.
Those impacted by change, who the legendary Rosabeth Moss-Kanter from Harvard called “change recipients”, push back with complaints or silence.

But friction doesn’t mean failure. If we handle it well, we can use it for feedback to generate real momentum.

Today I share a recent example and 3 tips you can use this week in your work.

Turning Negative Stakeholders into a Positive Force

One of my clients faced resistance from a highly influential stakeholder committee. This group felt it spoke for the customer. Their resistance came from a history of not being heard – they felt previously sidelined. We brainstormed an approach and the executive leading the change did the following:

• Nominated a respected sponsor from within the group.

• Engaged that sponsor in meaningful consultation.

• Reflected their input in visible decisions.

At the next meeting, that internal sponsor spoke up and endorsed the project. It had a powerful effect, and shifted the tone of the entire room. A clear sign that trust was being rebuilt, and momentum was returning.

Three Practical Tips to Reduce Friction and Speed Up Execution

1. Delve into complaints
   Often, resistance is a clue that someone feels left out. Use it to understand what matters.

2. Frame your strategy and change in cultural terms
   For example, in customer-centric cultures, show how your initiative helps customers, not just the business. It sounds obvious but I see so many firms get it wrong. If you’re a risk-averse firm, frame the strategy in a way that reduces risks, or explain how risk is being managed through the execution approach. Think about what is your main cultural descriptor in your business, and use it actively in all your strategic messaging.

3. Build support from the inside out
   Get someone respected “on the inside” to champion your strategic initiative. Just like we did with the committee example above. It’s more persuasive than any slide deck.

I see so much friction at the moment with the overwhelm from digital and AI disruption, on top of cost pressures and tight budgets. But friction fades when people feel respected, heard, and aligned to something they care about. When you understand the culture, you can work with it, not against it, and execution gets smoother and faster.

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.

Subscribe here to ensure you don’t miss this weekly newsletter.

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn

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 A practical strategic roadmap to leverage AI

For many businesses, it’s hard to know where to start with AI. It doesn’t have to be.

Join me live for one focused hour masterclass to help you plan and execute AI with clarity and speed. Why attend?

• Practical, proven execution frameworks from 50+ strategic implementations

• Tools you can use in board papers, planning sessions, and business cases

• No hype, just what works to turn AI ambition into action