Norman Broadbent's Board Practice Newsletter from this quarter focuses on The Discipline of Strategy, and why, clarity, courage and conviction matter more than ever.
Geopolitical uncertainty, technological acceleration, and shifting workforce expectations are reshaping the environment in which boards make strategic choices - and without clarity of intent, organisations drift.
But while the context has changed, the core discipline remains the same: strategy is about trade-offs. It is about deciding what not to do, as much as what to pursue.
This edition explores how boards can cut through the noise, insist on disciplined choices, and align purpose, capital and culture around a coherent path forward.
Insights from the issue include:
- The Discipline of Strategy: Clarity, Courage & Conviction - Tanya Gass reflects on why boards must factor in uncertainty, hold their nerve and focus on disciplined trade-offs rather than operational noise.
- Why Leaders Need to Stop Faking Strategy - Former FTSE CEO and Strategic Advisor, Lucy Dimes, challenges leaders to move beyond slide decks and initiatives and confront the real choices that shape long-term competitiveness.
- Who Owns Strategy Really? - Experienced Chair and SID Serena Lang on the board’s role in initiating, testing and refining strategy, without slipping into micromanagement.
- Before You “Do Strategy” - Belden Menkus poses five essential questions boards should ask before embarking on any strategy process, particularly in volatile markets.
- Future Proofing the Board - A recap of Norman Broadbent's recent series with BDO, exploring how boards can strengthen capability, plan succession more strategically, and ensure composition aligns with long-term strategic direction.
- Tanya’s Top Picks - From Michael Porter’s What Is Strategy? to The Purposeful Strategist podcast and RSA Animate on reimagining work.
Learn More:
Read the full edition here.
About Norman Broadbent:
Norman Broadbent is a leading Professional Services firm with 40 years of experience; they offer five interconnected Talent Acquisition & Advisory Services - including Executive Search, Senior Interim Management, and Leadership Consulting - tailored to address the unique challenges faced by boards. Their bespoke solutions focus on excellence, delivery, and innovation.