Our Strategic Foundations Workshop teaches strategic thinking skills, motivates participants to practice these skills throughout the innovation leadership program, and frames the learning so that they continue to apply them in their ongoing work. It is designed to support our innovation programs or as a stand-alone offering.
During the workshop , we address common gaps observed in ten years of working with high-potential talent. Participants engage in exercises using a combination of case studies and projects that illustrate the importance of strategic thinking in day-to-day operations as well as long-term planning.
Strategic Thinking: A Core Competency
Our workshop covers the following key areas:
- Strategic Ideation: How to brainstorm so as to uncover ideas with strong strategic potential, going beyond the bounds of current products and modes of business, while staying within the strategic intent of the firm.
- Strategic Research: How to map out what you need to know, dig for evidence of it, and know when you have enough to answer a high-level strategic question.
- Business Plan Development: What is a business plan? What functions does it serve? How does one approach developing one? Revising one? Seeking targeted feedback? How does it differ from the typical Powerpoint “deck” most participants are used to delivering?
- Holistic Thinking: How to move beyond academic concepts to work all of the project elements and a strategic business plan into harmony with one another.
- The Art of the Elevator Pitch: How to encapsulate product or service ideas so that they elicit enthusiasm and engagement.
Our programs require a focus on strategic alignment and competitive positioning from the initial stages of ideation to the final wording of the pitch . We introduce (or refresh) strategic thinking skills, motivate participants to practice the skills throughout the innovation leadership development program and make it likely that they continue to apply these skills in their ongoing work.
A strong foundation in strategic principles and thinking is essential to successful innovation. Over the course of delivering programs to hundreds of executives we have determined the following:
Most of the questions senior executives ask about innovation leadership projects focus on competitive strategy. It is the language they speak; the backbone of senior executive competence. A program that builds up bench strength needs to develop enhanced strategic awareness.
A shared awareness of fundamental strategic concepts generates ideas that bear fruit for the franchise. Managers who understand strategy stay focused and leverage opportunities that align with corporate goals.
