You're tasked with leading a team in the strategy industry. How can you ensure their success?

It is important to identify the strengths of every team member and utilize those to the fullest. But not only that – every skill counts. It is especially important in the strategy industry where every project encompasses a very broad range of tasks requiring equally diverse skill set from a team. Another crucial part is to ensure that team members get along with each other well and contribute to the common goal. A series of brainstorming sessions in the beginning of the project is a good way to achieve both of these goals. When facing a complex task and being let to express their thoughts freely and without judgement people tend to open and to leverage all their talents.

Imagine a sales team focused on closing sales for the month. The team's long-term goal is to increase market share in a specific segment. To ensure short-term gains align with this objective, the sales manager verifies that the strategies used to achieve monthly goals also contribute to sustained expansion in the target market. If a quick sales approach compromises long-term customer relationships, or if a quick one-month sales approach jeopardizes achieving half-year goals, the manager adjusts the sales strategy after analysis to realign short-term efforts with long-term objectives. This may involve altering sales priorities, adjusting goals, or refining how goals are communicated and managed.

Strategy teams are tasked with activities that ensures the long term vitality of their businesses. Innovation skills is only one part of it… many people can be very visionary and innovative but lack execution, change and leadership skills needed for strategy activation. It’s the combination of skills and business acumen that allow good strategists to impact their companies.

Crea un ambiente donde la creatividad sea valorada y las ideas nuevas sean bienvenidas. Establecé sesiones regulares de brainstorming y talleres de innovación para explorar soluciones fuera de lo común. Celebrá los éxitos y aprende de los fracasos, viendo cada error como una oportunidad para mejorar y crecer.

The best strategists are comfortable with adapting to new circumstances. The market is constantly changing, competitors make moves, customer needs shift, the economy takes a turn, or a black swan event like Covid comes along and changes everything. What works today might not tomorrow. Strategists must constantly be seeking out new knowledge. I recommend finding podcasts, books, YouTube channels, and websites to stay up to date on industry news and trends. It is important to be well-informed, if you are not running ahead to do so, you are falling behind. The reality is that strategists that are not adaptable need to cultivate the skill or perhaps consider other career paths.