A client wanted a complete strategic plan—vision AND execution roadmap—in just 1.5 days. I told them to find someone with a magic wand.
Real strategy work isn’t a thinking exercise. It’s a collaborative one—and that collaboration is what devours time and requires energy. Before you can decide what to do and map out how to get there, you need to hash out the hard truths:
- What are we actually willing to sacrifice?
- Which sacred cows are we ready to slaughter?
- Where do we fundamentally disagree—and why?
This takes both intellectual energy and socio-emotional energy. It’s a HIIT workout for the brain and the team.
I once paused a strategy retreat after day one because continuing would have had diminishing returns. The team had been in it 110%, rumbling through all the hard questions. We still had work to do, but they were exhausted. Eyes glazed over, slouching in chairs, people trying to rally over a late afternoon caffeine hit … the facilitator in me watching energy crumble in real time.
The CEO and I agreed that continuing at that point wouldn’t get them where they needed to be. Rather than fixate on getting it done now, we decided to get it done right and delayed the second session by two weeks.
The result? Night and day. Fresh minds, real debate, breakthrough moments. The strategy they built in that second session—the one they had time to actually think through—became the foundation for their most aggressive goals.
Rush the process to get to the “how,” and you risk burning out the very people who need to buy in. You’ll get a plan on paper, but if your team isn’t aligned, energized, and committed, that rushed plan won’t actually go anywhere.
So ask yourself: Do you want a strategy document, or do you want a strategy your team will actually fight for?
Looking to increase the cohesion, trust, and impact of your leadership team? Reach out and let’s discuss The Compass Team Experience and how I can help.
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