The Overshare 02
Discomfort is a force for good
I’m a warm, friendly sort of person – I like putting people at ease. And in truth, it’s potentially the best weapon any decent strategist can have in their armoury (or perhaps that should that be, disarmoury…). Earning a client’s trust from the outset of a project is vital if we are going to work enjoyably, credibly and well together – and that’s where the best outcomes begin.
I start most projects explaining that it’s my job to make you uncomfortable. If I leave an organisation somewhere that feels like an old slipper, I haven’t done my job. This is because strong strategy is about driving an organisation somewhere new, not simply leaving them with a mirror reflection of where they are right now, just rearranged slightly.
I have a major problem with agencies and consultancies who purport to do strategy and deliver nothing even close. Clients routinely show me work they’ve paid for and say: here’s the strategy they did, it just doesn’t seem to be working. More often than not, it’s because either the strategist or the client – or often both – did not understand what strategy was, either.
So, if you’re working with a third party and what’s been delivered doesn’t give you a thrill of terror/excitement or the promise of…what if we dared…? Then this may be why. If it’s too comfortable and doesn’t stretch you, daunt you or open a new possibility, it just ain’t it.
How do you tell?
Your strategy checklist should include three things. If it doesn’t tick at least two of them, it’s not fit for purpose:
Your commercial ambitions. Can you clearly see that it will open doors that were not open to you before?
Your cultural ambitions. Does it unite your organisation behind a single vision that will drive you collectively along the path you’d like to be on?
Your brand ambitions. Is it ownable, as in does it set you clearly apart from the rest of the pack? Could another client in your vertical take it and apply it to their own business?
If you’re an organisation that might need some of this, drop me a DM, I’ll review your status quo and show you your opportunities, gratis.
If you’re a strategist that feels they could be doing a better job, drop me a DM, I’d be happy to help you.
Now taking bookings for Q4.