Mastering the Art of Focus: A Blueprint for Business Success
In the ever-evolving landscape of business, leaders and entrepreneurs often grapple with the dilemma of expansion versus specialisation. The instinct might push towards diversification—more products, features, and markets—as the pathway to growth and success. However, this strategy often leads to a dilution of quality and effectiveness, due to the finite nature of resources and time. […]
Skiing the Slopes of Success: A CEO’s Guide to Navigating the Business Terrain
Last week, I was fortunate to be skiing in Austria. There I was at the peak of a snow-covered mountain, skis firmly strapped on, ready to ski down the run. This exhilarating moment isn’t just a thrill-seeker’s paradise; it’s a potent metaphor for the journey of running a business. As a CEO, you’re constantly navigating […]
Avoiding Strategy Pitfalls: Building Alignment for Business Growth
In the realm of business strategy development, the quest for innovation and transformation often unfolds like an exhilarating journey. Who wouldn’t relish the opportunity to engage their creative faculties and endeavour to reshape the world? However, beneath this enthusiasm lies a stark reality – the majority of strategies, up to a staggering 70%, fail to […]
Where were you on June 5th, 2023?
On Monday, June 5th, the world underwent a profound and transformative change that went largely unnoticed by the majority of people. This pivotal moment in history can be likened to the iconic occasion when Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone, holding it aloft on stage, forever altering the technological landscape. Remarkably, this recent development also originates […]
How to develop your competitive advantage….
According to a study conducted by McKinsey & Co., 47% of global executives surveyed do not believe that their organisation’s strategies effectively create an advantage over competitors. Instead, they described their strategies as focusing on operational effectiveness and imitating undifferentiated best practices, which do not qualify as genuine strategies. Many individuals often waste their time […]
How to create a competitive advantage and keep it…
In the current highly competitive market, businesses are striving to gain an edge over their competitors, but with potential customers becoming more knowledgeable, it is becoming increasingly challenging. Studies indicate that buyers are now more likely to investigate businesses online, with 86% of buyers currently checking out competitors. So, how can businesses secure a competitive […]
The common mistakes leaders make when developing a business strategy
Having run strategy sessions for businesses of all types and sizes, from early-stage startups to high growth companies, I have come to realise that creating a solid and effective strategic planning process is challenging, and few companies get it right. Based on my experience, here are the top five mistakes that companies commonly make when […]
How to build a more resilient business model
In time of rising uncertainty, it is more important than ever that your business is built on a model that is both adaptable and resilient. Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone has seen their lives turned upside down often with co-workers now pixels on a screen. Add to this the current volatile economy that […]
Do you have a strategic thinking team?
Being a Scale Up certified coach I often refer my clients to Verne Harnish’s book Scaling Up, for insights and great business tools. In the Strategy section of the book he describes creating Strategic Thinking Teams (the council) and states: “Grab a copy of Collins’ Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t and read the […]
How Scale Up businesses are getting ready for a recession…..
I continue to read the headlines in today’s media, which should come with a government health warning. Stories included high inflation and interest rate rises, the war in Ukraine, record-high hospital waiting lists and UK strikes. It’s clear that we are entering an economic downturn that, on top of post-pandemic supply chain issues, is creating […]
