In this episode about Strategy Deployment and Accountability
- Iterative Strategy Development and Execution: Strategy should be treated as a dynamic process, with continuous refinement of tactics and reevaluation of overarching goals to adapt to market changes and organizational needs.
- Focused Teams and Competitive Priorities: Small, systems-thinking teams create more effective strategies by avoiding the pitfalls of large, title-driven groups, while organizations should prioritize a single competitive focus—cost leadership, customer intimacy, or innovation—for clarity and impact.
- Core Focus Areas and Alignment: Leaders should concentrate on three key areas—financial growth, operational improvement, and strategic extension—and use alignment techniques like the “catch ball” method to engage the organization in effective execution.
In this episode of The CEO Project Podcast, host Jim Schleckser and Sharon McGuire discuss the critical link between strategy development and execution, emphasizing the importance of treating them as an iterative, interconnected process. Using frameworks like Henry Mintzberg’s “Two Loops of Learning,” they highlight how organizations must adapt strategies dynamically—refining tactical approaches while continuously reevaluating overarching goals to stay aligned with market changes and organizational needs. They advocate for small, focused strategy teams composed of systems thinkers rather than relying on large, title-driven groups. This approach enables more effective problem-solving and holistic thinking, which is essential for creating and deploying successful strategies.
The discussion also underscores the importance of prioritizing a single competitive focus—whether cost leadership, customer intimacy, or innovation—while avoiding the trap of trying to excel in conflicting areas. Effective strategies balance leveraging internal strengths with understanding external market dynamics, ensuring that objectives are both actionable and measurable. Leaders are encouraged to focus on three core areas: financial growth, operational improvement, and strategic extension, such as entering new markets or launching new products. By fostering alignment through techniques like the Japanese “catch ball” method and engaging the organization in execution, businesses can ensure their strategies drive meaningful, sustainable outcomes.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Jim Schleckser on LinkedIn
- The CEO Project
- Great Ceos Are Lazy: How Exceptional Ceos Do More in Less Time by Jim Schleckser
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by The CEO Project. The CEO Project is a business advisory group that brings high-caliber, accomplished CEOs together. Our team of skilled advisors comprises current and former CEOs who have run both public and private sector companies across multiple industries. With our experience and expertise, we guide hundreds of high-performing CEOs through a disciplined approach that resolves constraints and improves critical decisions. The CEO Project has helped high-performing, large enterprise CEOs with annual revenues ranging from $20M to over $2 billion to drive growth and achieve optimal outcomes. If you are an experienced CEO looking to grow your company, visit www.theCEOProject.com.