Successful strategy development is impossible without a broad perspective within the team. The quality of decisions made during a strategic session depends on how well employees understand the market, are aware of trends, and can analyze competitors’ actions. Expanding the team’s exposure and awareness is an investment that pays off through a more accurate and realistic strategy. Let’s explore why this is important, how to organize preparation effectively, and how it influences the final outcome.
- Why is it important to broaden the team’s exposure?
When employees are immersed in day-to-day operations, their view of the business becomes limited to current tasks.This leads to a narrow perspective and an inability to see opportunities that lie beyond the daily routine.
Exposure helps to:
- See new perspectives. Understanding market trends allows you not only to react to changes but also to anticipate them.
- Avoid repeating others' mistakes. Analyzing competitors' actions helps identify both successful and failed strategies.
- Generate ideas. A team with a broad perspective finds unconventional solutions faster.
- Practical tips: how to broaden the team's perspective.
To prepare the team for strategy work, several methods can be used. It is important that each participant has access to up-to-date information and the opportunity to discuss it with colleagues.
- Organization of digests
Compile a list of sources that provide data on current trends, market news, and successful cases. These could be articles, analytical reports, studies, or expert presentations. Send the team selections with the most important materials, but don’t limit yourself to just that.
Advice: Hold discussions based on what has been read. For example, after reviewing the digest, gather a working group to discuss which ideas might be useful for your company.
- Meetings with experts
Invite consultants, researchers, or leaders from other companies to share experiences. This can be either an official event or an informal meeting over a cup of coffee. Ask questions and learn about approaches to problem-solving that are relevant to your business.
- Analysis of best practices and trends
Studying successful strategies in related industries or among competitors helps to understand which approaches work and which do not. It is important not only to study them but also to adapt these solutions to the specific needs of your company.
- Creating a knowledge base
Create an internal library of materials accessible to all team members. This will help new employees quickly understand the context, while current ones can regularly update their knowledge.
A detailed guide with recommendations for broadening the team's perspective is available for download. here.
Or you can order a strategic session from us to broaden the management team's perspective.
- Case studies: how team preparation impacts the quality of strategies
A real-world example shows how broadening the perspective improves strategy development:
Case:
One company decided to include ecosystem development in their strategy. However, when the team began discussing this idea, it became clear that most members had a poor understanding of the ecosystem concept. Only one person could explain its basics, while the rest had no general understanding of it.
To solve the problem, a series of digests were organized, and experts were invited to help the team understand the topic. Over the course of several weeks, employees studied materials, discussed them, and formed hypotheses. As a result, the team approached strategy development with a clear understanding of what an ecosystem is and how it can work for their business.
- Why is this important?
Preparing the team before starting strategy development is not a waste of time, but an investment in the company's future. Exposure, creativity, and analytics become key elements that help:
- Reduce the time spent discussing basic issues.
- Improve the quality of decision-making.
- Form a strategy that will work in real-world conditions.
Broadening the perspective is the foundation for quality strategy development. Organize training, use external resources, and create internal conditions so that your team is ready to develop an effective and competitive strategy.
