Nmblr Focus Step 1: Decide The Strategic Imperatives
Purpose of this step: This step exists to turn your remaining strategic options into real choices. It helps the team name the few priorities that will govern decisions (and the “no’s” that protect focus), grounded in an honest starting point: the key issue you must solve to win. Done well, it’s how you stop “having a direction” and start moving as one.
Facilitator guidance
- Start with the strategic options still in play (the ones that survived earlier narrowing).
- For each option, invite the team to create choice by brainstorming the key issue: how the key stakeholder feels today, and the consequential behaviour. As the facilitator help the team discuss and debate the choices created and then make the choice. Articulate the key issue that needs to be solved for, for that strategic option.
- Invite the team to reflect on the drivers and barriers you identified earlier – remember they are the conditions of success for each option.
- Encourage them to use the ‘thumbs up' to show their enthusiasm for the options. Invite them to discuss, or off line to use the collaboration tool to do so.
- Then get the team to align around the choice: decide which options become strategic imperatives.
- Pressure-test the decision against your winning aspiration and winning focus with the team: Do these imperatives clearly state where growth will come from, how you will win there — and what you’re choosing not to do?
A useful question for the team to end this step: “If you had to say “no” to three attractive initiatives tomorrow, would these imperatives help you do it?”