Strategy During Crisis

Right now we are all in an altered state of being. We transitioned from the hustle and bustle of working in our offices, to a new normal with an integrated work and home life. Our offices are shared with family, pets, nature, and more. We are constantly adjusting to our new way of being, with ever-changing demands in the workplace. We have to fight fires as they arise, with what seems like little time to dedicate to strategy.

During this crisis, our focus as leaders is to remain agile and adjust with competing demands. We also need to navigate our team through all the challenges that this period of uncertainty brings. While doing so, we must remember to keep strategy at the forefront as well, carving out time to set, challenge, and adjust it regularly. Without this intention, it is easy for strategy to fall to the bottom of our list and never be addressed or modified.

Why is strategy important, especially during times of crisis you ask? We all hear “hindsight is 20/20” and we should reflect on past situations to make more informed decisions for the future. One aspect of strategy setting that we may miss if we reflect after the crisis ends, is that pressure shows us the most important aspects of our business. We often miss what works the best for us during tough times when we are no longer dwelling in them. Being aware of the changes we encounter in crisis, may encourage us to adjust our overall strategy to become more effective when we transition out of crisis. We must practice agility, and with that comes revisiting strategy often to ensure we stay up to date with the ever-changing demands of our positions. As leaders, we must continually prepare our teams for the future while simultaneously juggling current needs to ensure we remain progressive.

Here are some tips to keep strategy at the forefront:

• Schedule regular time to dedicate to strategy
  • 1 hour weekly/biweekly, etc.
• Reflect on the changes in your work demands since your last strategy check-in
  • What new best practices have you discovered?
  • What is no longer working?
  • Have priorities changed?
• Check-in regularly with your team for their input
• Set realistic and specific objectives to work toward your strategy

If you are interested in learning more or want to be partnered in walking the journey to make strategy a priority, please do not hesitate to reach out to the MECC team.