Synopses & Reviews
STRATEGY? TACTICS? CONFUSED?
How many times have you sat in a meeting and heard someone use the word “strategic?”
As in: “Were not being very strategic about X.” or “We need a strategic plan for project Y.” And, if your organization is like most, everyone in the meeting nods wisely, the meeting drones on, people endlessly debate how to approach the situation at hand, with - generally - no one the wiser as to what “strategic” really means.
Next time, respond: “Being strategic means consistently making those core directional choices that will best move us toward our hoped-for future. Is this what were doing?”
Everybody talks about strategy, but there is a big gap between discussing strategy, defining strategy and actually being strategic -- so you can accomplish something.
This book helps you approach business—and life—strategically, explaining what strategy is, why it's important, and how to do it. Being Strategic offers you a step-by-step model and skills for strategic thought and action that are broadly applicable and thoroughly practical:
• First, get clear about the problem youre trying to solve
• Then, figure out where youre starting from
• Now, imagine your “castle on the hill,” the future you want to create.
• Identify the “trolls under the bridge”; the obstacles in your path
• Next, outline the path to the castle: your core strategies and the tactics for implementing them.
• Re-evaluate your strategy and your tactics as conditions change
Framed around the story of 13th-century Welsh nobles building an actual castle, and weaving in dozens of real-life examples from her practice, which has helped restaurateur Danny Meyer and many others, noted consultant Erika Andersen offers a complete course in turning around a business, or a life.
Review
“[Erika Andersen is] to strategy what Suze Orman is to personal finance!”--Nancy Tellem, Senior Advisor to the CEO, CBS Corporation
“[A] clear, practical and powerful approach for navigating through tough times.”--Bonnie Hammer, President, NBCU Cable Entertainment and Cable Studios
“Unlike most experts in her field, Erika Andersen has an approach to being strategic that's sensible and accessible. With her, you feel capable of creating the business, career and life you want. Shes to strategy what Suze Orman is to personal finance!”--Nancy Tellem, President, CBS Paramount Television Network Entertainment Group
“Over the past decade, in each of the companies Ive led, I've relied on Erika Andersen to help me engage my senior team in getting clear about the future we want to create for our enterprise, and figuring out what it will take for us to get there. Her vision and strategy process helps us get our heads around complex issues in a way thats unusually simple: Im always surprised, at the end of a session, how weve made our aspirations practical and built a clear path to achieving them.”--Doug Herzog, President, MTVN Entertainment Group
“My partners and I have turned to Erika Andersen each time our company has reached a new plateau of growth - and generally when we need her expert prodding, analysis, and follow-up to get us over the next organizational hump. When I described our most recent re-structuring plan to a friend - a seasoned and successful financial professional - he was certain we must have hired McKinsey & Co. to help us think things through. Wrong. It was Erika Andersen.”--Danny Meyer, restaurateur, President, Union Square Hospitality Group
“To most of us, the thought of articulating a long-term strategy that is both visionary and practical seems an overwhelming task. The approach used by Erika Anderson enables a team to effectively articulate ideas, reach consensus, and formulate a detailed course of action for achieving their vision.”--Kathy Dore, President, CanWest Media Broadcasting
“When I became President of Women in Cable Telecommunications in 2001, I realized the organization needed to re-invent itself. Since that time, weve used the Proteus strategic approach to create a clear, powerful vision of the organization we wanted, and then to continually move toward that vision. WICT is now growing and vital — and Erikas work with us has been hugely helpful in making that our reality.”--Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, President WICT and Olympic Gold Medalist
Synopsis
In
Being Strategic, noted consultant Erika Andersen helps the reader approach business—and life—strategically, explaining why it’s important, what’s involved in doing it, and how to do it.
Being Strategic offers a step by step model and skills for strategic thought and action that are broadly applicable and thoroughly practical:
• First, get clear about where you’re starting from
• Now, imagine your “castle on the hill,” your ultimate goal
• Then identify trolls waiting under the bridge, obstacles in your path
• Next outline a path to get to the castle: your core strategies and the tactics for implementing them
• Constantly re-evaluate your strategy and your tactics as conditions change
Using a very accessible frame story of 13th century Welsh nobles building a castle for protection, and weaving in dozens of real-life examples from her practice, which has helped top restaurateur Danny Meyer and many others, Andersen offers a complete course in turning around a business, or a life.
Synopsis
Strategy? Tactics? Confused?
How many times have you sat in a meeting and heard someone say, “Were not being very strategic” or “We need to approach this more strategically”? If your organization is like most, everyone in the meeting nods wisely, the meeting drones on, people endlessly debate how to approach the situation at hand, and no one is the wiser as to what “strategic” really means.
Next time, say this: “Being strategic means consistently making those core directional choices that will best move us toward our hoped-for future. Is this what were doing?”
Everybody talks about strategy, but there is a big gap between discussing strategy and using a practically strategic approach to achieving the business, the career, or the life you most want.
In this book, Erika Andersen offers you a step-by-step model and skills for making being strategic a powerful habit of mind and action:
• First, get clear about the problem youre trying to solve.
• Then, figure out where youre starting from.
• Now, envision your “castle on the hill,” the future you want to create.
• Identify the “trolls under the bridge,” the obstacles in your path.
• Next, outline the path to the castle: your core strategies and the tactics for implementing them.
• Keep updating your strategic roadmap as you move toward your vision.
With this model and dozens of real-life examples, Being Strategic will help you approach business—and life—strategically.
Synopsis
Strategy? Tactics? Confused?
How many times have you sat in a meeting and heard someone say, “Were not being very strategic” or “We need to approach this more strategically”? If your organization is like most, everyone in the meeting nods wisely, the meeting drones on, people endlessly debate how to approach the situation at hand, and no one is the wiser as to what “strategic” really means.
Next time, say this: “Being strategic means consistently making those core directional choices that will best move us toward our hoped-for future. Is this what were doing?”
Everybody talks about strategy, but there is a big gap between discussing strategy and using a practically strategic approach to achieving the business, the career, or the life you most want.
In this book, Erika Andersen offers you a step-by-step model and skills for making being strategic a powerful habit of mind and action:
• First, get clear about the problem youre trying to solve.
• Then, figure out where youre starting from.
• Now, envision your “castle on the hill,” the future you want to create.
• Identify the “trolls under the bridge,” the obstacles in your path.
• Next, outline the path to the castle: your core strategies and the tactics for implementing them.
• Keep updating your strategic roadmap as you move toward your vision.
With this model and dozens of real-life examples, Being Strategic will help you approach business—and life—strategically.
About the Author
Erika Andersen is the founding partner of Proteus International, a coaching, consulting and training firm that helps client organizations clarify and move toward their hoped-for-future. She has served as coach and advisor to the senior executives of such companies as MTV Networks, GE, Rockwell Automation, NBC Universal, Union Square Hospitality Group, and Cablevision Corporation. Erika lives in New Yorks Hudson Valley, in her very own castle on a hill. She blogs at http://thesimplestthing.typepad.com