Can a well-constructed and resourced strategy succeed without the will of those driving it?
A good strategy, communicated, will keep things moving, but often it is an individual or group’s will, particularly ‘the sheer force of will’ that delivers the most change.
Work, determination, sacrifice can be what it takes – often hard fought and incrementally won. The change is noticed, evident, measurable and can be there for all to see. The change might be experienced by society, or by your peers, or your industry.
Strategies are rarely intended to change the world (or an organisation, or a company, or a city) very quickly. Long term change via strategy requires a long-term vision, and desire.
The successful staging of – say, the Commonwealth Games – required the integrated delivery of a number of strategies. But the gold medal, come-from-behind, glorious moment of the individual competitor whose ‘sheer force of will’ gets them across the line first – is what can move people and subtly change lives.
Steven Bradbury won the gold medal in the Men’s 1000m Short Track Speed Skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was the last man standing and coasted across the line first. ‘Bradbury is a strategy’, I often say – getting there, being there, and being the last one standing to see it through.
A strategy created by people needs to be communicated to many others. An individual with a dream needs to engage with the right people (their stakeholders) to realise that dream.
We need others engaged and in agreement to get anywhere.
By working with professionals who are experts in the art of communication, engagement and training, you will be able to:
- Capture the essence of both a personal dream or goal, and a collective vision
- Understand what you’re trying to achieve and develop clear objectives
- Prioritise and action what needs to be done, by who, how, and by when
- Know what to do next, and how to monitor progress
- Communicate to those who’ve been on the journey with you
