Take The Handbrake Off

Achieving strategic coherence means eliminating all the points of friction we can find, by looking at things like policy process, people, budgets and systems.

Decision Quality, Strategic FocusAlicia McKayAugust 28, 2019strategicfocus

Time To Light Some Fires

Where is your board, team or Council on this the continuum? Is it time to light some fires?

Strategic RiskAlicia McKayAugust 21, 2019strategy, risk

Preparation Beats Prediction

Are you suffering more in imagination than in reality? Or worse - not confronting reality at all? Does your team ‘get’ risk?

Strategic RiskAlicia McKayAugust 14, 2019risk, strategy

Making Your Own Rules

What rules do you need to set for yourself, to do more of what matters?

Strategic FocusAlicia McKayAugust 7, 2019strategy, decisions

Creativity, Strategy and Magic

Strategy and creativity are one and the same.
Creativity is not magic.
Get to work.

Strategy 101Alicia McKayJuly 31, 2019strategy

Focus – To Have, To Do, or To Be?

Like our eyesight, focus doesn’t mean staying fixated on one spot. It needs constant adjustment and adaptation.

Strategic FocusAlicia McKayJuly 24, 2019focus, strategicfocus, strategy

Strike While The Iron Is Hot

Open ended strategy days see people walk out covered in post it notes and full of excitement, only to have it go nowhere.. Strike while the iron is hot, before your teams cool off and harden completely.

Strategy To ActionAlicia McKayJuly 17, 2019strategy, change

Let Go of the Good

The thing about real change is that it can’t be as well as – we’re already at maximum capacity. Real change needs to be instead of.

Strategy 101Alicia McKayJuly 10, 2019strategy101, strategicfocus

Only That Which Can Change Can Continue

Is your strategy keeping up with the times? Or are you still hooked on an old zeitgest?

Strategy 101Alicia McKayJuly 3, 2019strategy101, strategy, change

Internal Functions Are The Strategy Engine Room

When the way we do business doesn’t line up with the goals of our strategy, it’s hard to make real progress.

Strategy 101Alicia McKayJune 26, 2019strategy101, change, strategy

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

It’s budget time again – how’s yours going? Do your budget conversations sound at all like your strategy conversations?

Strategic FocusAlicia McKayJune 19, 2019strategy, strategicfocus

Strategy Is Everyone's Job

Ever heard of Not My Job (NMJ) syndrome? Making strategy meaningful and delivering on change is all about everyday decisions and actions.

Strategy 101Alicia McKayJune 12, 2019strategy, strategy101

Strategy Is Simple

Somewhere along the way, we let the buzzwords take over. Objectives, missions, visions, purpose, strategies, approaches, principles, values, action plans and initiatives – it’s enough to give anyone a headache.

Strategic FocusAlicia McKayJune 5, 2019strategy, decisions, strategicfocus

The Future of Work

ATMs did not spell the end for bank tellers, and machines are unlikely to spell the end for strategists any time soon – in fact, the demand for jobs with critical analysis, meaning making and leadership skills is predicted to skyrocket.

Strategic FocusAlicia McKayMay 29, 2019strategy, decisions, strategicfocus

Community, not Competition

The public organisation should have no desire to compete. If others are willing to operate in our space – great! We should get the heck out, or provide support if there are gaps in the public good.

Strategy To ActionAlicia McKayMay 22, 2019strategy, focus, decisions, change