In the world of competitive advantage, strategic thinkers win the war, tactics win battles.
Joe runs a profitable company, providing value to his customers. He did not achieve this on-going success with only luck and hard work. He focused strategically on his goals.
He purposely set out to be the best. He was early in utilizing computers to control and measure processes. He built a dedicated team, willing to speak their minds. He sought out every activity that would garner good press for his business. Joe’s company is still the standard by which everyone else in the industry was measured.
Joe knew it was about winning, not just playing the game. He knew he had to learn four things if he was going to be the best of the best:
- Where did he compete in the industry?
- What unique value could he provide?
- What resources and capabilities could he use?
- Could he create a sustainable advantage?
Joe followed his strategy by answering these questions:
- How do you create a great strategy in your organization?
- How do you give yourself a strategic advantage over the competition?
Ask strategic questions that:
- Create motion and are open-ended.
- Create options.
- Dig deep, stir the pot.
- Avoid “yes” or “no”; these words discourage dialogue.
- Are empowering, e.g., what would it take for you to….?
- Ask the unaskable –tackle taboos and draw attention to the elephant in the room.
Strategy also tells you what NOT to do as you prioritize the activities needed to set your organization apart.
The road is easier together,
Linda Laitala, President
Raven Performance Group