Startegy - The most common misspelling of the word strategy.
Also, perfectly sums up how every class, project, business case and chess match should begin.
Start with Strategy.
The very first class of our program is “Strategic Management and the World of the General Manager”. Article after article, business case after business case, we were exposed to the big picture.
Having limited strategic experience coming into this program was not a problem. As I intimated in my last post, no one has the required experience. Having the confidence to just go for it, to tackle a problem that a seasoned businessman or manager struggled with was essential. And fun.
Getting into the heads of managers faced with tough decisions, and reasoning out a plan of action lets you step back, get outside of the separate issues (silos), and take a stab at the central isssue which ties it all together.
I’m realizing that this is not just applicable to business cases, but to life in general. Step back. Examine the big picture. Are you career planning? In a tough relationship? Are you making a decision about a major purpose or life change? Step outside of the narrow details you’ve been stuck on. If you begin this way, you’ll gain the perspective needed to see that key element that you need to address to take on the whole decision.
In life, as in business, we end up mired in one or two details, rotate them over and over again, and find ourselves stuck with the same bad answer we’ve always had. Or none at all.
Get perspective first. Find the main issue. Tackle it head on.
Use Startegy.