STRATEGY DIFFERENTIATOR

What differentiates you from your competition?

Sometimes our biggest competitive advantage is an intangible asset. When we typically think of our differences it tends to be based on our product or services. But it doesn’t have to be so tangible. As a matter of fact you already consider it a strength, you’re just not thinking of it as part of your strategy.

You should...it is I’m talking about your customer service. Your follow up. Your communication skills. The way your coordinator answers the phone. The speed your PM’s return calls. The email response within 24 hrs. All of these things are #strategydifferentiators and your business superpowers! We spend so much time over thinking that we forget strategy and even leadership at their core are very intuitive and natural activities.

What superpower differentiators are you using?

Tell me about them!

COMMENTS:

1. Differentiation shouldn’t be easily imitated. But efficiency is not always easily imitated as it depends on the industry. If your efficiency is created by a new AI you invented or special “strategic alliances” those can be cost prohibitive for others to emulate and then it is still a powerful difference. Yet I agree, lack of competitive advantage creates parity and parity creates commoditization which we all know creates price wars. I still don’t know what he meant by “competitive advantage is not universal”?
2. Differentiation shouldn’t be easily imitated. But efficiency is not always easily imitated depends on the industry. If your efficiency is created by a new AI you invented or special “strategic alliances” they can be cost prohibitive for others to emulate then it is still a powerful difference. Yet I agree, lack of competitive advantage creates parity and parity creates commoditization which we all know creates price wars.
3. I’m not sure I follow how minimizing risk satisfies the customer? Unless you mean by minimizing the risk on their projects that you will perform? That is certainly a competitive advantage but only if you perform better than others. If your risk approach only provides parity then it is not an advantage, it’s table stakes
4. People are the ultimate difference! When Drucker said culture eats strategy for breakfast he was talking about people. People are the culture, regardless of how hard we try to eliminate them. They are the biggest strength, or weakness of all businesses... depending on how you use (treat) them!

#bluecollarphilosopher