We were thrilled to welcome Rebecca Homkes, author of "Survive, Reset, Thrive," to the SME Strategy + Leadership Podcast. Her perspectives offer a powerful guide for implementing growth strategies through uncertainty.
The Shift to Loop Thinking
Rebecca jumped in by challenging conventional strategic planning. She advocated for a "loop mentality," shifting from rigid, checklist-driven plans to dynamic, adaptive strategies.
"Everything in breakthrough growth is a loop, not a line,"
she stated, emphasizing that "strategies are living, breathing documents that should adjust as we learn and as we execute." This means considering moving away from static strategic plans and embracing continuous cycles of stabilization, resetting, and thriving.
To help you put Rebecca's concept of living strategies into practice, download our strategic planning workbook, a practical tool to help you get started.
Proactive Strategy and Beliefs
Homkes emphasized a critical shift: acting on beliefs, not waiting for definitive facts. In today's volatile environment, waiting for "perfect" information can be a fatal delay.
She explains it's about forming your own ideas about what's coming and acting on them, realizing those ideas will change. To Rebecca, this proactive approach to strategy is essential for survival, as it allows your organization to anticipate and adapt to changes before they become crises. By acting on beliefs, you can position your organizations to thrive- instead of reacting to external pressures when they happen.
Change Management: Key to Execution
To make these adaptive strategies actually work, you likely need solid change management. Homkes' "loop thinking" ultimately means working in an environment of continuous change, making effective change management frameworks crucial. To handle change well, you need to train your team and develop their skills to do so. If you're not sure where to start, take a look at our change management workshops that will help your team build that capacity.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHANGE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS
Strategic Planning Facilitation for Dynamic Strategies
To navigate through these strategic loops, your organization may benefit from strategic planning facilitation. A skilled strategic planning consultant can guide teams through the strategic planning process, fostering alignment and ensuring strategies are focused on your priorities.
If you're looking to bring clarity and alignment to your strategic planning process, our strategic planning services can provide the facilitation and expertise you need.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SERVICES
Key Takeaways
- Embrace uncertainty as a growth opportunity.
- The reset phase is crucial for thriving post-crisis.
- Loop thinking allows for continuous strategy cycles.
- Proactive survival means preparing before shocks occur.
- Competitive advantages are eroding faster than ever.
- Acting on beliefs can lead to better strategic decisions.
- Organizations should focus on building loyalty with customers.
- Talent development is essential for long-term growth.
- Strategic plans should be living documents that adapt.
- Growth requires a commitment from leadership.
- Change Management is vital for successful strategy execution when applying the loop thinking framework.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Survive, Reset, Thrive
- 02:55 Navigating Uncertainty in Leadership
- 05:51 The Importance of Loop Thinking
- 08:49 Building Competitive Advantage
- 12:11 Kickers and Killers: Strategic Planning Insights
- 14:58 Developing Talent for Growth
- 16:55 Conclusion and Call to Action
LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST
To hear the full conversation with Rebecca and Anthony, tune in to the SME Strategy + Leadership Podcast.
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About Our Guest
Dr. Rebecca Homkes is a high-growth strategy specialist and CEO and executive advisor. She is a Lecturer at the London Business School, Faculty at Duke Corporate Executive Education, Advisor and Faculty at the Boston Consulting Group focused on AI and Climate and Sustainability, and a former fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Economic Performance.
A global keynote speaker and recognized thought leader, she is also the global Faculty Director of the Active Learning Program with the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), leads several fintech accelerators, and serves on the boards of many high-growth companies. She earned her doctorate at the London School of Economics as a Marshall Scholar and is now based in Miami, San Francisco, and London.
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