Strategy Is The Art of Sacrifice

In preparing to do work for the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, I interviewed a dozen retailers and manufacturers. During one of those interviews I heard a quote on strategy that really has stayed with me: "Effective strategic planning is really about the art of sacrifice." I love that because it means that a truly great strategy helps you clarify what you are going to stop doing as much as it tells you about what you are going to continue doing. A really effective strategy is like the sculptor's tool in that it helps you slice off all that which is not necessary. By adhering to a clear strategy, you quickly find that your efforts synergistically work together to drive better results and gain momentum over time. While far too many organizations have members working with their chin so close to the grindstone they don't realize their working on completely disconnected activities, the members of great groups step back from the grindstone and make sure their efforts are supporting one another and all fit under the umbrella of a clear and effective strategy.

Here are four steps to establishing and implementing an effective strategy:

1. Develop a "Working Statement of Success." This is not a lofty vision statement, but rather a simple clear realistic statement of what you want your organization to look like if it were ultimately successful.

2. A strategy is simply a guideline that defines an organization and the direction in which it is moving. Develop several strategies that your organization could use to accelerate the realization of the working statement of success.

3. Determine which of these strategies best fits the values, passions, talents and resources in your organization.

4. Once you select your strategy, be sure that every activity and decision falls under the umbrella of this strategy.

If you do that, you will begin to steadily build an ever-growing snowball of momentum toward your desired results.

CAREER ACCELERATION
THE INTRINSIC VALUE OF MENTORING OTHERS

I was a high school teacher for ten years. Never really understood geometry until I taught it. Never really understood soccer as a complete game until I coached it. If you truly want to learn how to accelerate your career, make a commitment to at least one other person to help them accelerate their career. Take the time to listen to their desires, opportunities and challenges. Carefully consider what advice you will offer to them and why you select this advice. Stay in touch with them regularly for at least six months and focus on sincerely helping them become more effective in their work. Challenge them with thought-provoking questions and give them feedback with complete candor. Help them become more effective as a leader, manager, communicator and team player. And then watch while the magic starts to happen within you. Steadily you will become a more effective leader, manager, communicator and team player. The old saying still holds true. You cannot help another person without simultaneously helping yourself.

Republishing Articles

Each month my e-newsletter gets republished in approximately 20 blogs, on-line publications, and internal publications for businesses, universities, and not-for-profit organizations. If you would like to republish all or part of my monthly articles, please send me an e-mail at dan@thecoughlincompany.com with "Republishing Article" in the subject heading. I will send you the article in a word document. All I ask is that you include my name as the author of the article and a short paragraph at the end of the article about me with a link to my website.

Take care and have a great month!

Dan Coughlin

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