Issue No.62: Sense checking strategy
And a pause in releases....
Let’s talk Strategy
It’s easy to say you have a strategy. It’s harder to live it.
Endless opportunities and new ideas means there is a constant risk of doing too many things.
Strategy isn’t therefore about choosing what to do; it’s about deciding what not to do too.
That’s why ruthless clarity on your priorities matters.
Without clarity, “strategy” becomes a fancy word for “busy.”
So how do you know if your priorities are real and not just a nice-looking list?
Here are five sense-check questions that you can use to test your priorities:
1. If we only achieved one thing this year, what would it be?
This forces you to name the goal that truly matters, not the ten things you hope happen.
2. What are we saying “no” to on purpose?
If your strategy doesn’t include explicit nos, it’s not a strategy.
3. Where are we spending the majority of our time, money, and energy?
Priorities aren’t what you talk about, it is where your resources flow.
4. Are we solving a meaningful problem?
Sometimes we chase tasks but they don’t actually move the needle. Strategy is about impact, not activity.
5. Would we still choose this focus if we had to bet our own money on it?
Nothing clarifies your real belief in a strategy like having skin in the game.
Final thought
Strategy is about focus, and focus demands tradeoffs.
Real priorities are uncomfortable, because they require real choices.
Next time you’re feeling priorities slipping, try pulling out these five questions.
The sharper your priorities, the stronger your results.
A pause in releases.
Due to personal reasons, I am going to take a pause from these weekly releases for the rest of Q2 and Q3. I look forward restarting this newsletter later in the year.
Thank you for all your support, comments and feedback on these Issues that I have been writing since January 2024.
As always, if you enjoyed this content then feel free to share widely.
Nic x
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