successful implementation of strategic initiatives require cultural alignment

Quality is no longer a competitive advantage.  Today’s priority is to be heard in a “noisy” marketplace. What strategic imperative will set the pace tomorrow?  Whatever it turns out to be, rest assured that  strategic imperatives will continue to change at an ever increasing rate.  Without adjustment,  the capacity or willingness of employees...

If HR wants to “earn a seat at the strategic table,” it must justify

Recognize that most small to medium-sized businesses don’t have much HR expertise. How many of those folks wearing the HR hat have made the effort to obtain their PHR or SPHR designation—the benchmark of a “serious” HR executive? A company without this expertise would be wise to seek it out, either through a part-time consultant or HR executive...

grow profits and owner equity by creating transferable wealth and wisdom

The National Federation of Independent Business — which always seems to have the gloomiest or, depending on how you look at it, realistic data — found small-business owners’ confidence in December had risen for the fourth month in a row. Their headline: “While Economic Winter Continues, It Appears to be Getting Warmer.”...

“The best laid plans of mice and men” The skepticism of Robert Burns

 Long range planning is at best a waste of time .  Visioning by contrast, has become essential to the process of creating plans that work.  Planning is like being a naval Admiral.  It is serious and control oriented—demanding  commitment and performance.  Visioning by contrast, feels more like being a pirate.  It’s about innovation, imagination...

In the shift-age, speed and flexibility are major success factors.  Should

the situation change, time spent developing a detailed strategic plan may be at best a waste of time, and at worst a performance inhibitor.  A less detailed forward thinking process held more frequently may be sufficient to keep people aligned but flexible should the need...

The ground is shifting under our feetTo survive and prosper, CEOs must

Traditionally, organization planning was carried out once a year by the senior team through a strategic planning session where past performance was assessed and  long/short term targets were determined.  Once the annual goals and budgets were approved, operating plans for departmental; staffing, organizing, controlling, directing, and coordinating...