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Strategy Clarified And Simplified -- A Lead Well Special Report

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When executives first begin to formulate strategies, the potential benefits are appealing. Soon after beginning the work, the executives often find themselves confused and frustrated. What is really needed?

A lot of this confusion and frustration can be avoided if the strategy thinking is kept simple and focused. One of the strengths of this paper is to do just that. The whole process is boiled down into five parts (Purpose, Choices, Decisions, Priorities, and Action). I particularly liked the emphasis on purpose and priorities. In my experience, my people beginning to develop strategies miss those points. Purpose is defined as your way to get an edge in providing for customers. For example, Southwest Airlines gets and keeps passengers coming back by providing pleasant discount travel. Priorities are what has to be done first in order to create and sustain the advantage. For Southwest, hiring and developing employees who make the travel pleasant are top priorities.

Most people who begin developing strategies could benefit from reading a lot of books on the subject. As busy executives, they will never get around to doing this. Mr. Blohowiak's paper obviates much of that need for further reading. By putting the key ideas into a short paper, anyone can have time to learn and apply what they need to know.

When I began the paper, I was a little concerned about how readers would get a sense of what the key strategy issues are. I was delighted to find excellent questions that provide that perspective. Answer these questions and you will have made great strides in understanding what you business needs to do.

The paper is also helped by a series of excellent diagrams that simplify and explain what the prose has covered.

Although experienced strategists won't find much new here, anyone who is developing their first strategy would be well advised to start with this paper.

Donald Mitchell, co-author of The 2,000 Percent Solution, The Irresistible Growth Enterprise, and The Ultimate Competitive Advantage.

This LeadWell special report on Strategy takes an incisive look at both the components and results of effective business strategies, helping readers both understand and apply its lessons.

Though it is comprised of just 14 pages, the Strategy report is filled with distinctions, examples, techniques, and nuggets of wisdom. It is also well- designed, colorful, and easy to navigate.

I found this special report to be a solid action guide and not a whiffy theoretical article. Novices looking for a primer will find this document to be a quick read and a good way to accelerate your learning curve. The customer who will get the most out of this Strategy report is the executive or manager who has been charged with developing or updating some strategic aspect of the company's operations, products, or services. The LeadWell Special Report on Strategy will lead you to ask important questions and provide you with a framework that you can adapt to your specific challenges.