8
Melting the Frozen Tundra
Does the following sequence sound familiar?
• Set an objective.
• Develop an action plan to achieve objective.
• Push forward execution of plan.
• Realize that plan is not working.
• Push harder with action plan.
• Find that objective is not being met.
• Push even harder with action plan.
• Watch as people abandon ship.
• Redefine objective and declare victory.
If this sounds familiar, it’s not surprising. Far too often, this is how companies approach the implementation of strategy, change programs, and all sorts of other business initiatives—and why so many of them fail. Their leaders refuse to accept a basic truth that Scottish bard Robbie Burns famously described, “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ ...
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