I was recently asked to help a firm improve its completion performance on breakthrough projects. The decision to bring me on board was triggered by a backward-looking review of the business case documents that were generated for funding the programs. These are the kind of projects that lead markets, build brands and provide services to […]
I’ve had a really engaged and focused set of workshops recently around growth options with C-leaders of mid-sized, complex firms. To become a complex firm, each had to develop competencies in one of the four main growth drivers: Internal R&D, M&A, Partnerships or Venturing. Each of the firms I was working with has had […]
Have you ever spent a lot of time, money and resources on things that appear to be effective in improving your firm’s competitiveness – only to find that your market position has not budged? One of the privileges of the work I do is having the ability to speak with C-level leaders in complex firms. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
