The (Strategic) Thing About Kites

I love kites - launching them, flying them, watching them, and reeling them back in to start again. Skilled fliers are a joy to watch. With subtle adjustments, they maintain harmony between their kites and the wind, adapting constantly as conditions change. Often, a kite creates a burst of color on a blue or grey background.

Look up and outward

It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day management of operations and people. Even when we have specific and relevant strategic objectives for the longer-term, we tend to direct our attention to what's right in front of us. Head down. Nose to the grindstone. Checking off to-do items. While driving for results and getting things done is definitely a good thing, it doesn’t always leave sufficient space to look up and outward. That can make it harder to execute strategy well.

Seeing a kite causes me to look up and outward. And often, that's just what's needed to drive strategy forward.

Good strategy requires anticipating changes

Good strategy requires anticipating changes in your business environment, then adapting your approach or direction to capitalize on opportunities or avoid pitfalls. When we're focused predominantly on current challenges or simply keeping things moving, we can lose sight of the future. And if you don’t take time to look for it, you can’t manage it.

Executing strategy needs sufficient space and time

For me, there really is a thing about kites. In fact, over the years, I've written several articles (including this one) highlighting lessons I've learned about strategy while enjoying the majesty of kites in flight.

When you find yourself entrenched in daily operations, take a moment. Because executing strategy needs sufficient space and time to look up and outward. Armed with renewed perspective, adjust the balance between delivering today and securing the future.

Look up and outward to keep your kite - and strategy - flying.

The executives I advise routinely make their strategies work better. I can help you too.

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?2024 Tara J Rethore.?All rights reserved.?Permission granted to excerpt or reprint with attribution.