How to Adapt Strategies After Experiencing Failure

Reality isn't linear. Your thinking shouldn't be either. Yesterday's logic is deeply rooted in linear cause-and-effect thinking. More precisely, the extrapolation of cause-and-effect thinking from a theoretically linear world to a real-life complex world. This way of thinking gives us an unfounded expectation of certainty and control. It leads to static and brittle strategy. Strategy that's likely to break. To build more robust and dynamic strategy, adopt a more enactive approach to strategy. Here are five actionable steps you can take to incorporate enactive thinking into your management approach: 1️⃣ 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲: Accept that you cannot predict or control every aspect of a project. Use this understanding to inform your decision-making and prioritize adaptability over rigid planning. Recognize that the more complex a situation is, the less effective linear thinking becomes. 2️⃣ 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫, 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬: Instead of trying to tackle a complex initiative all at once, break it down into smaller, more manageable projects that allow for more frequent feedback and iteration. This approach helps you navigate complexity more effectively and reduces the risk of catastrophic failure. 3️⃣ 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞-𝐭𝐨-𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Encourage experimentation and learning by fostering a culture where failure is seen as an opportunity to learn and improve, rather than a mark of incompetence. By making it safe to fail, you create an environment where people are more likely to take risks and innovate. 4️⃣ 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Regularly review the progress of your projects and make adjustments as needed, using the insights gained from small failures and successes to inform your next steps. This iterative approach allows you to learn from experience and adapt your strategies to better address complex challenges. 5️⃣ 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐬: As you gain more knowledge and confidence in your approach, gradually increase the size of your bets to capitalize on the higher likelihood of success. This allows you to take calculated risks based on your growing understanding of the complex environment you're operating in. In short, enactive strategy is about hacking your luck and creating conditions that change your odds of success. If you want more dynamic strategy - be a luck hacker. Agree? --------- 💡 If you like this kind of thinking, check out my masterclass on Strategic Thinking for Advantage. (30% discount with the coupon code "SPRING24" - ends soon) Secure a seat while you can: https://lnkd.in/gGQpGm23

Embracing Failure: Lessons Learned from a Recent Experience LinkedIn is often a platform where we highlight our successes, but I believe it's equally important to share our failures and learning experiences. Allow me to take you through a recent setback and the valuable lessons it offered. Last November, our team received an invitation to respond to an RFI alongside 10 other global negotiation training companies. This opportunity came from one of the largest corporations in their industry headquartered in Europe. They sought a comprehensive global training program for 400 procurement professionals, a task well within our expertise. The RFI was extensive, leading us to submit a detailed 38-page proposal. We learned that we were shortlisted as one of the three potential suppliers. The client proposed an innovative agile procurement process, including a live workshop at their HQ. However, challenges arose from the outset. Negotiating cost compensation for our team's travel proved difficult, and scheduling the event became nearly impossible. Ultimately, the workshop shifted to a virtual format on an unfamiliar platform. Despite meticulous preparation, the workshop itself felt more like an interrogation than a collaborative session. Feedback was unexpected and critical, leaving us feeling disheartened and perplexed. During the workshop, frustration mounted within our team as we grappled with unexpected challenges and criticism. At one point, a colleague couldn't contain their exasperation and exclaimed, "If only you had spent all this time and preparation running a pilot workshop with each supplier, all of us would have saved so much time." This outburst encapsulated the frustration we felt at that moment. It underscored the hindsight realization that investing time in pilot workshops could have provided invaluable insights early on, potentially streamlining the process and avoiding the pitfalls we encountered. Following the workshop, we were informed that the client had decided to proceed without us. Their reasons? They perceived our approach as overly academic and doubted our ability to scale the workshop effectively. While disappointing, this experience provided some valuable insights: 1. Value Your Time: Don't invest significant hours in RFIs and engagements without ensuring appropriate compensation. 2. Know Your Medium: Creative workshops may not translate effectively to online formats; consider the limitations of virtual environments. 3. Clarify Expectations: Ensure clients have a clear understanding of their objectives and are prepared for the engagement. 4. As an advisor i often sit on the other side of the table and always recommend the buyer offer the supplier compensation for more time consuming proposals. Sharing this experience isn't merely about airing frustration; it's about embracing the opportunity to learn and grow. By reflecting on setbacks, we can refine our approach and ultimately achieve greater success.

Ever faced a setback so bad you thought you'd never recover? I have. It wasn't pretty. I was fired on the spot. During BUD/S (basic training to become a SEAL), I was the class leader. I was responsible for knowing where everyone was and making sure the class was in the right place at the right time. I not only failed to have the class at the right place, it was an inspection and nobody had prepared because I had missed it. Group "remediation" ensued for the next hour and I was the point of focus. It was demoralizing and embarrassing for me, seeing my class punished for my mistake. It was the first and only time I had considered "ringing out". And the lessons I learned have stuck with me to this day. In the entrepreneurial world, just like in the SEALs, failures happen. They're the unspoken chapters in every success story. Here's how to push through these low-points, recover, and even grow from them. 1. Analyze, Don't Romanticize: Understand what went wrong without dwelling on it. Like debriefing after a mission, extract the lessons. 2. Adapt and Overcome: Change your approach. What works in calm seas might fail in a storm. 3. Resilience is Key: Your ability to get back up is more valuable than why you fell. 4. Build Your Team: Surround yourself with people who push you to be better, in calm and stormy weather alike. Every failure is a hidden opportunity. In the SEALs, I learned to face them head-on. Now, as an entrepreneur, I use these lessons daily. Remember, you are going to take some heavy hits in your journey. Just keep getting up and keep learning. If you've faced failure and bounced back, I'd love to hear your story. Share it below! 👇 

I'm a failure. In fact, I've become a master of failure. When you try to do hard sh&t, you fail. Over and over again. I've taken on big challenges, and more often than not, failure has been a significant part of the journey. → While training for my first Ironman, I nearly drowned during the swim, crashed on the bike, and bonked on the run. These incidents happened dozens of times. → When I started my first company, it collapsed, and we lost everything. It was an epic failure. → I haven't always been the best dad, husband, or friend. Fail, fail, and... wait for it... fail again. But, with those failures came reflection on what I could do better. And then came growth. → I completed an Ironman. And then several more. → I successfully built another company. And then a couple more. → I've become a better dad, husband, son, friend. Or at least I've tried. These achievements were only possible because I learned how to fail. Failing properly is a skill, and it's one you can master. It might sound odd to think of failing as a skill, I know. But it's part of life's rhythm. It happens again and again. You can either suffer from it or grow. And if growth from failure is your goal, then it becomes a practice like any other. Here's how to start: → Get over yourself. You screwed up. Admit it. Own it. → Run toward the failure and reflect. How did you screw it up? Be brutally honest. → Embrace the lessons. Create a strategy for the next opportunity you have to execute. Now, the hardest step... Rewire the outcome in your mind. → Visualize the scenario where the mistake was made. → Now visualize the event with the lesson learned and a successful outcome. → Do this repeatedly until you can clearly see AND FEEL the outcome you desired. Failure is part of the journey. You can stew in it, blame, and grow bitter. Or you can own the mistake, learn the lessons, and create excitement. It's entirely your choice. 🔥 Subscribe to The Founders Collective Newsletter: Exclusive insights for start-up leaders aiming to scale to $100M and beyond. Link in Featured Posts and Comments. *** #EmbraceFailure #GrowthMindset #ResilienceInAction #LearningFromLoss #BounceBackStronger

Even the most well-planned campaign can fail. Failing stings, but how you respond as a leader is what defines you.  Here's how to fail fast, then bounce back stronger: 1. Own it, don't hide it: Transparency builds trust. Acknowledge the issue, explain what went wrong, and outline the fix. 2. Check Emotions: Separate out the feelings. Vent if needed. Give teams space to process without fearing blowback. 3. Review and learn from the flop: Do a post-game analysis on what went wrong factually. Don't let that mistake haunt future campaigns.  3. Pivot, don't panic: Sometimes, course correction is key. Adapt your strategy based on learnings and keep moving forward. Setbacks show we take risks and push limits, rather than play it safe.  Own when things go sideways. Learn from the wreckage. Then keep charging ahead wiser.  That's how real leaders mine failures to level up.

Let’s Talk About The Power of Pivoting in Sales:Embracing New Strategies When the Old Ones Don't Work. In the world of sales, it's not uncommon for strategies to fall short or fail to yield the desired results. However, the ability to pivot and adapt is what sets successful sales professionals apart. In this post, we will explore the importance of being flexible and open-minded when faced with challenges in sales and how embracing new strategies can lead to greater success. 1. Acknowledge the Need for Change: When a sales strategy isn't working, it's crucial to recognize the signs and acknowledge the need for change. This requires a level of self-awareness and a willingness to step back and evaluate what isn't working. Whether it's low conversion rates, declining sales numbers, or a lack of interest from prospects, understanding the need for a pivot is the first step towards finding a new and effective approach. 2. Evaluate and Analyze: Once you've recognized the need for change, it's time to evaluate and analyze the reasons behind the lack of success. Dive deep into the data, feedback from customers, and insights from your team. Identify the specific areas where your strategy is falling short and where improvements can be made. This evaluation process will provide valuable insights that will guide your new approach. 3. Embrace a Growth Mindset: Adopting a growth mindset is crucial when it comes to pivoting in sales. Instead of viewing a failed strategy as a setback, see it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Embrace the mindset that challenges and setbacks are part of the learning process and that each failure brings you one step closer to success. By staying positive and open-minded, you'll be better equipped to explore new possibilities and find innovative solutions. In Sunmary, In the ever-changing world of sales, the ability to pivot and adapt is a critical skill. Embrace the need for change, evaluate your strategies, and adopt a growth mindset. Seek feedback, collaborate, and be open to trying new approaches. Remember, success comes to those who are willing to learn from failures and constantly evolve their strategies. So, embrace the power of pivoting in sales and watch your success soar. Thoughts??? #medicaldevicesales #meddevice #thepowerofpivoting #devicediaries #customercentric #growthminset #acutecaremonitoring #medtronicemployee