15 DAYS TO A STRATEGIC YEAR

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2023 is almost over. I bought my daughter a Chocolate Advent Calendar marking the days to  Christmas and New Year. For organizational executives, leaders, and business owners, needing to look at 2024 as strategic year, here are 15 questions to bring your focus your attention on strategy, change, and leadership. 

Strategic Success not Perfection 
I was talking to an Executive Director a few months ago about a strategy exercise they wanted to do. They decided to do a bridging strategy until a new relationship agreements are inked with a major donor. Small-scale, daring or modest, it's all about the implementation. 

1. What are the musts-goals?
2. What interests and ambitions must be protected and guarded?
3. Who implements this strategy and what resources are already earmarked for it?
4. When it comes to communicating the change component of the strategy, what is the main crux of your narrative?
5. Who decides what to be done? What stakeholder mechanisms are in place to safeguard organizational-wide support and engagement? 

Managing Change is like Flying a Kite
I used to fly a kite when I was a little kid growing up in suburban Manila. In the early 80s, we played games outside using cans, bottles, and we even cut some plant leaves and made a soup out of it and ate it too! Improvisation is key only when you have creativity. 

1. Do you know where you are in your change process?
2. Have you looked at framing, reframing, and rebooting your change narrative as you adapt to more sub-changes within that big change?
3. Who needs to be informed, consulted, and won over your side over time?
4. What cultural changes and behaviors are to be championed for change to set and be retained?
5. Who is your greatest ally at this point and what could be your next selling 

Disrupt YOUrself
I was teaching in a fellowship programme. One fellow said that he is not leading anyone. He is the finance guy and does most of his work alone with little coordination with other people in other departments. I told him that he needs to lead himself more effectively if he wants to be impactful at work and in other areas of his life. 

1. When was the last time you invested in yourself that brought tremendous benefits?
2. When was the last time that it didn't make a difference?
3. What can you do next year that would make a huge difference in that one problem/situation you're dealing with?
4. What positive mindset would you carry for the rest of 2024 constantly reminding yourself when faced with challenges?
5. Who are your allies and supporters? How can you work alongside them to help you be accountable to your goals? 


From my family to yours, I wish you peace, calm, ease, great fellowship, and comfort this wonderful season. Happy Christmas and a Joyful and Abundant 2024!