Strategic Thinking & Strategic Action

Fostering strategic thinking and strategic action by organizational leaders since 2007.

California High Speed Rail to nowhere: Lessons for implementing our plans
Strategic planning Lee Crumbaugh Strategic planning Lee Crumbaugh

California High Speed Rail to nowhere: Lessons for implementing our plans

A New Year has befallen us, ready or not. Hopefully, you are ready. That is, you - and your organization, if you are a business owner or for-profit or non-profit leader - have a plan in place for the New Year.

Now your challenge it to execute your plan for greater success. Execution, or, as we strategists call it, plan implementation, should be your mantra.

Execution, or better said, lack of it, is where it all falls apart. While the exact percentage is unclear, it’s safe to say that more than half and up to three quarters of plans are either poorly executed or not executed at all. That’s shame! A plan which is not executed is worthless.

Achieving timely and effective plan implementation is critical to success.

To bring the point home, reflect on this true tale that illustrates the perils of poor planning and, especially, poor execution.

Read More
Are you ready to bat?
Strategic planning Lee Crumbaugh Strategic planning Lee Crumbaugh

Are you ready to bat?

Just as a batter needs to constantly monitor and process all these variables to make good decisions at the plate, as an organizational leader or business professional you should be keenly aware of what’s going on around you when you step up to bat. For businesses, this process is environmental scanning - which these days involves doing a deep dive on the internet and using AI to identify trends and forecasts that offer ideas on how you might proceed in the future.

Environmental scanning is critical, because the environment in which we all are operating is dynamic. Every day brings change – new opportunities and new challenges.

Read More
Drift and big change challenge our success
Strategic planning Lee Crumbaugh Strategic planning Lee Crumbaugh

Drift and big change challenge our success

Every once in a while we stumble across a seemingly profound thought, the “aha!” moment when we see things in a new way, a concept or approach that helps organize, clarify, and make sense out of what we are seeing or experiencing. One of these “aha!” moments in my life as a strategist has led to deep and useful insights that I suggest anyone planning for future success will be wise to consider.

Read More