Tag Archives: questions

Don’t Ask About Deadlines and Due Dates

Posted on March 31, 2013 by

Don’t ask about dead lines, instead the strategic initiative leader should probe for timing expectations and the sense of urgency held by his/her stakeholders. Continue reading →

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A Master List of Questions for Strategic Initiatives

Posted on December 6, 2011 by

More than 80 good questions for leaders of strategic initiatives, provided by Greg Githens, who notes that “leaders lead by asking questions.” These questions are categorized: strategic path finding; betterment of risk, issues, and decisions; and elaborating requirements, solution design, and value propositions. Continue reading →

Posted in Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

What’s Scary, Weird, Stupid, or Hard? A Tip for Improving your Story Telling

Posted on November 3, 2011 by

The strategic initiative leader is the chief story teller. Stories have turning points that resolves tension. Humor can help with tension resolution. By identifying what is scary, weird, stupid, and hard, the leader can find humor. Includes application of the four areas to Domino’s Pizza Turnaround strategic initiative case.This tip is the first of the “How to Improve Your Story Telling Chops” series. Continue reading →

Posted in How to Improve Your Story Telling Chops | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Use the As-Is-&-To-Be Table to Clarify Strategic Initiative Vision

Posted on September 30, 2011 by

This is a practical technique for strategic initiative vision, similar to gap analysis. It includes a case example of how Greg Githens used it to help a COO and team structure a floundering strategic initiative for better performance. He advises more effort on the To Be visioning and addressing ambiguity. He cautions about the risk of analysis paralysis. This article can help managers involved in strategy formulation and strategy execution. Continue reading →

Posted in Examples of Strategic Initiatives, Interpreting Strategy Documents, Transforming the Organization, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Use the Columbo Question to Get Strategic Information

Posted on July 19, 2011 by

In the inquiry mode of leadership, questions help to set strategic direction and discover requirements and intentions. Greg Githens explains that the last question in an interview is, “Is there any question that I should have asked that I haven’t asked.” Continue reading →

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A Practical Tool for Gaining Program Management Insights

Posted on July 5, 2011 by

Greg Githens describes the SIMple model (SIM = Strategy, Inquiry, Metrics) as a tool for framing key issues in a strategic initiative. He recommends starting with inquiry and metrics, and using that to evaluate and refine the program strategy. Continue reading →

Posted in Program & Portfolio Management, Success Principles for Strategic Initiatives, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does Your Strategic Initiative Need a Fresh Perspective?

Posted on June 24, 2011 by

Greg explains how to overcome headwinds in a strategic initiative with 4 perspectives: storytelling, learning, integration, and decisions. He illustrates how each role is applied through a case study. Continue reading →

Posted in Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Examples of Strategic Initiatives, Strategy Coaching and Facilitation, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Strategic Thinking (Part 2): Framing Decisions with the Four Types of Ambiguity

Posted on May 24, 2011 by

Good strategic thinkers are strong minded; they cope effectively with ambiguous information. This article explains how to recognize the four types of goal ambiguity (methods, metrics, priorities, and outcomes). The strategic initiative leader needs to frame decisions to cope with this ambiguity. Continue reading →

Posted in Competencies of Strategic Initiative Leaders, Strategy, Ambiguity, and Strong-Minded Thinking | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

How to Energize Strategic Initiatives with Outcomes

Posted on April 20, 2011 by

Performance outcomes are time-based trends that serve to crystallize the strategic vision. This “how to execute strategy article” explains that the strategic initiative team builds a cause-effect model. Applying its model, the team develops the strategies that lead to the desired improvement in performance outcomes. Helpful tips are provided. Continue reading →

Posted in Interpreting Strategy Documents, Strategy Coaching and Facilitation, Success Principles for Strategic Initiatives, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Four Driving Questions for Success

Posted on September 16, 2010 by

You can increase your ability to build alignment and commitment for strategic initiatives by asking and answering what I call The Four Driving Questions, shown in this graphic. The order is important: first why, then who, then what and when. … Continue reading →

Posted in Strategic Planning Issues for Strategic Initiatives, Success Principles for Strategic Initiatives, Useful Practices & Management Tools | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments