When I walked into the conference room I could sense the tension immediately. One of the groups in the room had developed new and powerful insights and had gotten those insights to the point where they needed real backing to move toward a new service product. The second group was as dug in as […]
Here in the U.S, we just enjoyed the closest thing we have to a universal cultural event: the Super Bowl. Even those who aren’t ardent NFL fans take part in the parties, the advertising and the debate over what “surprises” the halftime show will have in store. Sidestepping this excitement for a moment, there is […]
I’ve had a chance to speak for and facilitate several private sessions for groups of senior executives. The goal of these sessions is to help them develop the structure needed to efficiently develop and execute growth work. At the beginning of each session, I ask a series of questions designed to gather insight about the […]
Growth projects suffer from being underled and over managed precisely because it takes us to an uncomfortable place for strong operational leaders. I was speaking to a group of senior leaders during a recent workshop on the topic of the STRIDE journey that every significant growth project follows during its execution. As we’ve discussed previously, […]
Let’s set the scene for an all-too common exchange: It’s 6 pm on a Friday. The second shift is already half complete and you’re trying to get home for your kid’s birthday party. Your Architect: “You simply cannot ship with that firmware load. It’s missing a key feature that we will need to do (obscure […]
The cycle usually begins with the best of intentions. There is a need for a new product, with the team being asked to explore a new market or job to be done. Initially, there is a release of energy and new thinking, which is documented in flip charts, PowerPoints and (eventually) phase zero specs. […]
One of the key activities we do during our Compete Growth Leader workshops is to play a bit of a game. As the group gains insight into both the core strengths and opportunities embedded in the Four Key Capacities of Growth Leadership, we begin to apply them to real-world situations. As the work progresses in […]
I received more insights from readers this week on the article I wrote about the sponsorship of growth projects in complicated organizations. Many of them pointed to the fact that, even with sponsors, their cross-functional teams face challenges moving from the lab to the marketplace – especially at one consistent point in the value chain. […]
Facilities closed. Talent left. Products and services delayed. You would assume we were talking about a business on the brink of calamity – but that’s not always the case. In fact, I received feedback after my recent post on the role of Sponsor for the Growth Leader triad that all of these had occurred […]
The Growth Leadership model has allowed me to come alongside dozens of leaders in complex firms to provide both a framework and coaching that will allow them to break through significant product, technology and process issues. Whether it’s getting a CEO and operations leader to talk productively again, or working towards the birth of a […]
