Strategy is not final and requires regular review and adjustment to meet changing markets. Communication becomes an integral component in the success of strategic management and planning. The way is important. Flexibility is important in contemporary changing markets.

It all depends on what demands are changing. Has their desired outcome changed? Then it is reworking the strategy and plan to produce the results they are after. Have their resources changed? Address the how and look for creative cost effective methods. Has the timing changed? Modify the timeline by strategically look at what you could do more quickly without sacrificing outcomes. Has leadership changed? Have the necessary conversations with the right people explaining the why. outcomes, and strategic path. A good strategic planner knows what questions to ask and address when changes are necessary - which is pretty much true for every project!

Having led teams through changing client demands, I've learned that a static strategic plan won’t cut it. Embracing market agility means regularly seeking client feedback and adjusting our approach based on real-time insights. I encourage my teams to share their experiences—this creates a dynamic response system that keeps us aligned with our clients' needs. Proactive innovation is key. I foster a culture of experimentation where new ideas are tested quickly. By anticipating client demands rather than merely reacting to them, we not only strengthen relationships but also drive sustainable growth. It’s about turning challenges into opportunities.

Agility is the new way to manage initiatives. Embrace new tools, methods, and technologies to enhance offerings and stay competitive in response to changing market conditions. Make fast adjustments to meet evolving client needs. At HPE, we fail fast and learn fast. It allows us to improve incrementally without costing a fortune.

Strategies change, just like visions and goals. Be clear you understand their issue. Is it the strategy—or did they change their vision of success, or a goal? Know WHY you need to make a change, or guess and lose. Use a cross-functional team to assess what needs to change in the strategy to meet the customer’s new demands. This is why risk assessment is important, to predict speed bumps. Mitigation is important. It means your risk assessment wasn’t quite right, so plans must change more. Plan backwards from the point of deflection. If the vision changed, may need a whole new strategy. An intermediate goal changes, the strategy might just need minor mods. Don’t over-think it. Play “what if,” then sell the best alternative. And Win!