Get Strategy Therapy Instead of Regular Therapy

Switch from Strategy Planning to Strategy Therapy

Insight from HBR

You know, when we talk about strategy planning, it's usually this very logical, outward-looking kind of thing that's all about crunching numbers and analyzing the market.

But here's a thought: maybe what really makes for a healthier and more effective strategy session isn't piling on more analysis.

Enter strategy therapy.

Strategy therapy uses the same tools as traditional strategy planning, but the twist is that it nudges leaders to tackle those tough conversations they'd rather avoid.

Let's break strategy down to its basics.

At its core, strategy is just about nailing three honest answers:

1. Where are we right now?

2. Where do we want to go?

3. How do we realistically get there?

A big stumbling block for a lot of companies is that first question. There's often a lack of real talk about their strengths and weaknesses.

Here's where strategy therapy swings in.

It's about getting embarrassingly honest about what you believe about your strategy and what truly makes your products or your company stand out.

When building out your company, here are 3 questions to ask yourself:

1. What is the one thing that makes your business special?

Identifying what makes our business special is crucial. Is it the product, benefits or pricing, or the company's marketing, sales, or supply chain strengths?

2. How special is the one thing that makes your business special?

Honest strategy exercises, like evaluating price elasticity, marketing effectiveness, and sales versus advertising spend, reveal the true market impact.

3. How far will we go to make the one thing truly special?

There are three ambitions a business can aim for: dominating the market and prioritizing cost efficiency over innovation; focus on excellence, innovation, and commanding a higher price; or seeking to be unique.

Most leaders aim for just being better, but the real game-changers dare to aim for the best or uniquely different.

That's exactly why strategy therapy trumps traditional strategy planning.