Advice please from the well-versed and esteemed Proformative community. Just landed a new role, and one of the hurdles was that I have not had a strategic aspect to my prior responsibilities. All in all, this represents a great opportunity for me, and one I have wanted for years. Now that it is here - any advice on how to position myself for success? There are the usual
Moving into a strategic role.
Answers
Explore the business finance/finance business partnering concept further. I have written quite a few blog posts here on Proformative on the topic. Also feel free to send me a PM to discuss further
In the last three years I went through a similar process and this is what I did...
1) Educate yourself - Read a ton of books, Proformative
2) Master concepts from a thousand foot view to get your mind out of the forest. I find using models to be the best technique for this. Here is a great business model concept I use with strategy www.businessmodelgeneration.com (Business model canvas)
3) Have lunch with people who are already skilled in strategy and ask them questions.
Honestly, if you read enough books you will start to think very differently about business. Good Luck!
I would recommend finding a mentor. If there is not someone within your company, look outside.
Yesterday there was a great
https://www.proformative.com/events/ensuring-your-strategy-maps-are-strategic
Read Michael Porter's books on strategy.
I blogged on this at https://www.proformative.com/blogs/len-green/2013/09/24/
Go ask non-finance leaders (e.g. sales, ops) what they think makes a good business partner for them in terms of defining and executing strategy.
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