Why Operationalizing Strategy Isn't About Communicating Proclamations

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

26:46

For many travelers, Antarctica is a bucket-list destination, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch all seven continents. In 2023, a record-breaking 100,000 tourists made the trip. But the journey begs a fundamental question: What do we risk by traveling to a place that is supposed to be uninhabited by humans? And as the climate warms, should we really be going to Antarctica in the first place? SHOW NOTES: Kara Weller: The Impossible Dilemma of a Polar Guide Marilyn Raphael: A twenty-first century structural change in Antarctica’s sea ice system Karl Watson: First Time in Antarctica Jeb Brooks : 7 Days in Antarctica (Journey to the South Pole) Metallica - Freeze 'Em All: Live in Antarctica Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

há cerca de um ano 2:34

M4A•Home de episódios

Here’s a line in a corporate strategy document from a multi-billion-dollar client I was working with a few years ago:

"We need to focus on better understanding the evolving needs of our current and future customers, and tailor solutions to meet those needs."

What the hell? Isn’t that what the company should do as just a basic, daily, operating principle? That’s not a strategy, it’s a proclamation.

169 episódios

#Business #Andrea Olson

Why Operationalizing Strategy Isn't About Communicating Proclamations

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

published há cerca de um ano

M4A•Home de episódios

Here’s a line in a corporate strategy document from a multi-billion-dollar client I was working with a few years ago:

"We need to focus on better understanding the evolving needs of our current and future customers, and tailor solutions to meet those needs."

What the hell? Isn’t that what the company should do as just a basic, daily, operating principle? That’s not a strategy, it’s a proclamation.

169 episódios

#Business #Andrea Olson

Todos os episódios

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Why Sometimes It’s Smarter to Make Things Harder 2:15

há 12 hours2:15

2:15

The business world is hooked on ease. Streamlined processes. Seamless experiences. One-click solutions. It’s become the gold standard—strip out complexity, reduce friction, and assume anything hard is inherently broken. But here’s the catch: when everything is designed to be easy, people stop thinking.…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Seeing What Nobody Else Sees 3:23

há 15 dias3:23

3:23

Success isn't about being the smartest person in the room or making the perfect decision every time. If you think that, you’re probably stuck in a perpetual game of catch-up with the competition. The real secret to staying ahead? The ability to see what others can’t—those hidden opportunities, unnoticed patterns, and risks waiting to turn into catastrophes. You know, the stuff everyone else is too blind or too lazy to notice.…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Seeing Customer Needs Through a Different Lens 2:43

há 15 dias2:43

2:43

Companies often rely on buzzwords like "innovative," "game-changing," or "cutting-edge" to define their unique value proposition (UVP). While these terms may sound sexy, they lack substance. They fail to connect with customers on a meaningful level. A strong UVP, however, should be grounded in genuine customer insights and focus on solving problems that competitors overlook.…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
The Bum Rush Strategy and Why It Fails 3:22

há 6 weeks3:22

3:22

A new CEO enters the picture and has a laundry list of things to change. Or a new department head who wants to make a good impression and starts overhauling things. Sometimes things do need to change. But you can break more things than you fix with this approach.

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Why Your "Clear" Communication Isn't Clear 3:21

há 8 weeks3:21

3:21

As leaders, it's not enough to take the orders from on high and simply regurgitate them to our teams. We need to add value. We need to add insights and details. We need to help them understand how that initiative impacts them and how they can engage.

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
The Psychology of Momentum 2:38

há 10 weeks2:38

2:38

Positive psychological momentum is a cognitive force that changes human behavior and performance. It enables people to achieve at a level not ordinarily possible. You see, when people experience success, it propels them to amplify their efforts. This positive momentum builds a greater likelihood of success in future endeavors.…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Don't Conflate Strategy Tools with a Strategy 2:24

há 12 weeks2:24

2:24

Because strategy is about charting a particularly distinct path to success, thinking counterintuitively in an environment of complexity, and leveraging your advantages with ways to amplify those advantages, it’s hard to put that into a structured formula.

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
The Blueprint for Brand Differentiation 3:14

há 14 weeks3:14

3:14

Today's consumers are bombarded with choices. Brand differentiation is no longer optional—it’s a survival strategy. But the question is how. Instead of focusing on product promotions, enable your customers to experience your brand.

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
The Difference Between Transactional and Relationship Building Answers 3:02

há 14 weeks3:02

3:02

Ever notice how some conversations leave you with more questions than answers? That’s often the result of a reply instead of a response. While the two may sound similar, the difference is critical, especially in problem-solving, leadership, or collaborative work.

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Can't Solve a Problem? Forget About It. 3:27

há 19 weeks3:27

3:27

It's so frustrating when you've got a problem you need to solve, and nothing's coming to you. No ideas that will help move things forward. Maybe you talk with others to try and gather perspectives. Or you dive into the Google rabbit hole to look at how others have solved the problem. But there's nothing. You want something new, something innovative. Not just the same old approach everyone else uses. But you've run dry. How can you get that spark of inspiration you need?…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Why Operationalizing Strategy Isn't About Communicating Proclamations 2:34

há 23 weeks2:34

2:34

Here’s a line in a corporate strategy document from a multi-billion-dollar client I was working with a few years ago: "We need to focus on better understanding the evolving needs of our current and future customers, and tailor solutions to meet those needs." What the hell? Isn’t that what the company should do as just a basic, daily, operating principle? That’s not a strategy, it’s a proclamation.…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Strategy Requires Creativity. Creativity Requires Time and Practice. 3:09

há 25 weeks3:09

3:09

Think back to when you were under the gun to come up with a ground-breaking idea or solution to a complex problem. How many of those instances produced something revolutionary ? Likely very few . However, too many companies expect employees to spend more time looking productive than being productive. So, with limited time, those appointed to develop a strategy often spend more time on business theater than on contemplating creative approaches to compete.…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Why Getting Unanimous Agreement is Bad for Strategy 1:40

há 28 weeks1:40

1:40

Leaders tend to strive for unanimous agreement – especially for large strategic decisions and situations where there’s a lot of uncertainty. If we have full commitment from our team, we must be making the right decision! Who wouldn’t want everyone to be on board? But unanimous agreement doesn’t mean there’s true agreement, no matter how many head nods you get in your meeting.…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Understanding The Types of Non-Customers 3:42

há 28 weeks3:42

3:42

Your sales are down. You need an influx of new customers. Great! Often the first step is segmenting your prospects into groups, whether by industry, product type, service type, or some other categorization. Then the marketing blitz begins. Maybe you create a special offer on a product. Or a discount for new customers. Or just put up some billboards to build general brand awareness. But the needle doesn't move that significantly. Why?…

The Customer Mission Podcast with Andrea Belk Olson

1
Does Your Company Have Mental Shrinkage? 2:54

há 28 weeks2:54