Cultural Shift

As we transition beyond the grip of the COVID 19 pandemic with reopening underway in different stages around the globe, I’d like to share a story of strategy-making during the pandemic. Yes that’s right DURING the pandemic. You see, I had started strategy work with Ada Jobs Foundation in Ada, OK, in January 2020. We were in full swing the week of March 9th, only for that to be my last trip in 2020. Yet, after we recovered from the initial shock of the pandemic shut down, we – inclusive of Ada Jobs Foundation, the City of Ada, partners, the business community, homeless service providers, and many other stakeholders – continued to engage in productive conversations to move Ada’s economy forward.

The process utilized for Ada’s strategy is the basis for TadZo's new Strategy Master Class, a unique course for transforming from strategic planning to acting strategically in all you do.

Ada's fundamental shift moving from strategy-as-a-product to strategy-as-persistent-process

I think you will find it interesting to hear what Jim Eldridge, CEcD – President & CEO had to say about this approach to strategy:

What did you find most interesting about the process we utilized for your strategy work?

I think the most interesting part of the process was how quickly we were able to shift and adapt to changing circumstances.

How could I better describe this strategy process?

A few thoughts spring to mind. First, I think the term ‘strategy’ needs a critical examination. There’s a fundamental shift moving from strategy-as-a-product to strategy-as-persistent-process. I think our approach viewed this process as a kind of cultural shift in the way I wanted to work. In this sense, I think it’s not just the capacity building that was significant but the idea of what that capacity was going to help Ada build and achieve throughout the engagement.

I knew this project was going to be impactful when….

We were debriefing after each of the focus groups in the summer, and I remember thinking that we’re seeing something bigger than we expected. The more we spoke to people in my community, the more it was clear that several key issues kept returning as common threads, such as broadband access or the desire for a central entrepreneurship hub. If we had done a more cursory approach to public input or community engagement, I don’t think we would have the same level of confidence in the areas we identified for new action.

What was different working with TadZo?

This was an incredibly engaging project that went forward in a very difficult year. Beyond the responsiveness, there was an incredible amount of optimism and energy that was carried throughout the process. The work of the strategy always felt important, and it always felt like it mattered.

I would hire TadZo again because….

We did hire TadZo again because of what our community was able to envision and accomplish. We needed someone who would skip the paint-by-number approach and help us look at our community in new ways. The different approach has helped my organization build capacity and feel ready for new challenges and opportunities. Essentially, the engagement provided us with a toolkit for my community’s future.

Want this impactful approach to strategy for a fraction of the cost of a consulting contract?

It's true… I am sharing my secrets in the Strategy Master Class which is now open for enrollment. This Master Class is so much more than any course you have taken on strategy. It is an immersive learning space for hands-on learning combined with coaching. Transform your mindset and act strategically in all you do. Learn how to continue the process for ongoing relevancy. Lean into change and lead with meaningful impact.

From strategic planning to acting strategically in all you do

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