Podcasts from a Caribbean Cubicle

Duration of Ideal Strategic Planning Retreat

“Francis”, clients sometimes ask, “Why do you recommend a two-day strategy retreat?” Usually, they want to get the most from their workshop, but also don’t wish to waste a moment. After all, top executive time is quite expensive.
Assuming that your company has agreed to such a workshop, what’s the difference between one, two, or more days?
Catch up on all past columns at https://blog.fwconsulting.com

What’s Your Business Legacy?

You don’t normally think for long about the lasting impact your actions have on unknown business colleagues. This is particularly true if they haven’t even been born. But is there a reason to consider far-future generations of leadership in your company?
See past columns at https://blog.fwconsulting.com

Time to Ditch the ”Pillars” in Your Strategic Planning

You finally have time to look back at outputs from prior strategic planning retreats. A quick glance reveals an approach they used which includes “pillars”. If so, be aware: there are some drawbacks to this technique that could lead to a weak plan.
Check out past columns at https://blog.fwconsulting.com

Stop Treating R&D as a Luxury

You agree with the general concept of having new products and services to offer your customers. After all, a company that relies on stale stuff is likely to fail. But how do you put together an effective R&D plan when budgets are limited?
 
For past columns see https://blog.fwconsulting.com

Creating the Future

Have some people in your company become reaction-machines? In other words, do they run around all day responding to the latest crisis? Deep down, you know they are inefficient, but what can you do to shift to a culture in which the future is created rather than feared?
For past columns, see blog.fwconsulting.com

How to Connect Two Different Generations at Work

We all know what it’s like to be inspired by a vision of the future. It feels good, as if we are responding to a higher purpose. But why do corporate visions fall often flat?
For other articles see https://blog.fwconsulting.com

Moving Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Productivity

You have a serious concern for your personal productivity. It’s annoying to realise moments where you could have done things more efficiently. Why? You are someone who hates to see time being wasted. But when you reach out for help, all you receive is “foreign” advice, far removed from your experience.
To read prior columns, see blog.fwconsulting.com

Non-Specific Corporate Vision is Uninspiring

We all know what it’s like to be inspired by a vision of the future. It feels good, as if we are responding to a higher purpose. But why do corporate visions fall often flat?

Best timelines for strategic plans

You are about to begin a fresh round of strategic planning. The team is eager, but before the retreat starts, you have a tricky decision. What length of time should your organization create a plan for?
Visit our archives for past columns - https://blog.fwconsulting.com

Culture still eating strategy for breakfast

You have heard the saying that “Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast”. It has a ring of truth to it, but you don’t want to believe that strategic planning is futile - a victim of large, negative forces which cannot be overcome. But if it’s neither entirely right nor wrong, can we still use it?
To access my archive of past columns, see https://blog.fwconsulting.com