Like many others, I’ve used the lockdown period to improve my fitness. For the first time in over a decade I’ve been running three or four times a week. I must admit that I was a little nervous about it, worrying that I would injure a knee or ankle, so I’ve been working with Adam, a coach who has created and overseen my schedule.

My biggest surprise of the programme was the relatively slow pace that he set for my runs. I kept thinking, “But I could run faster than that!” When I discussed it with Adam, he patiently explained that keeping the pace down protected my body, but also ensured that the runs wouldn’t completely exhaust me. As a result, he continued, I would have more energy and enthusiasm for the next run.

He’s right. In the past when I’ve been running, I’ve tried to get a PB on every run and, as a result, have either got injured or simply become knackered, losing the mojo to go out again. This time it’s different. Now I’m looking forward to the day’s run. And guess what? Over the past three months, I’ve also begun to run further and faster.

When organizational teams start new initiatives, they often set off as if on a short sprint. But most initiatives are marathons, which is why it is so common to find that, like my previous attempts at running, many change programmes fizzle out after a few months.

Improving organizational pace is critical to your success – which is why I wrote the book, First and Fast – but you need to start off your initiatives at a pace that you can maintain and improve. That way, you’ll also be able to develop the organizational engagement, passion and capabilities that you’ll need to race through the finishing line.

How are you balancing your desire to deliver your most important initiatives at pace, with the need to ensure that its speed is both sustainable and capable of building your organisation’s ability, desire and enthusiasm to go even further and faster next time?

Off The Record: The Runner by Foals

Shadow, see how far I go

Step by step I’ll keep it up

I won’t slow, I gotta go

What’s Your Post-Covid Business Strategy?

Find out how we’ve helped Mentholatum, the owner of Deep Heat, to re-focus their strategy, identify new growth opportunities and get on the front foot to succeed in the post-covid world https://morgancross.co.uk/business-rocks/business-rocks-the-unwritten-future/

In just a few short weeks, Stuart helped us to cut through the uncertainty created by the pandemic and create a new, refreshed strategic plan that will enable us to rapidly bounce back from the downturn and accelerate the growth of our sales, market share and profits.

Rob Yateman, Managing Director, Mentholatum UK

Coronavirus White Papers

I have written three white papers to help business leaders respond to the coronavirus pandemic and crisis.

Powering Through the Recession

How to grow profits and lead your markets through the coronavirus economic crisis

Agility For Life

 The crisis has led to faster, more agile decision-making and action across businesses. Applying six key principles can help leaders embed these changes to create ‘agility for life’

Succeeding Beyond The Coronavirus Pandemic

If you want to succeed in the post-Covid world, you need to plan and act fast bow to reshape your business to the new realities and opportunities. Succeeding Beyond the Pandemic gives you a clear, 5-step process to reshape your strategy and accelerate your success.

© Stuart Cross 2020. All rights reserved.