by Stuart Cross | May 15, 2018 | Innovation, Leadership, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace
Managers value predictability; it gives them a sense of control over external events. In my experience, results that do not match initial expectations are not normally welcomed, and actions are quickly put in place to restore performance to expected levels. Even...
by Stuart Cross | Apr 4, 2018 | Leadership, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace
In recent weeks I’ve come across several examples where leadership teams have been struggling to get important new projects off the ground. In one instance, a three-month gap had emerged between agreeing the need for a particular set of projects and any work...
by Stuart Cross | Jan 4, 2018 | Innovation, Leadership, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace, Strategy
Whatever your views about the ongoing Brexit discussions, there can be little argument that the situation is creating uncertainty for UK businesses and their leaders. A slow-down of economic growth, falling house prices and sales, a devaluing currency and rising...
by Stuart Cross | Oct 16, 2017 | Influencing, Leadership, Performance Improvement
Functional silos are the silent killer of business growth. They exist where the leaders of a particular function act in the best interests of that function, not the wider organisation. Most of the time, these leaders achieve their aims through passive...
by Stuart Cross | Aug 23, 2017 | Growth, Leadership, Performance Improvement, Strategy
A client of mine is struggling to deliver its new strategy. Despite setting a clear, overarching goal, agreeing the most important product categories to focus on and settling on product innovation as the key to the company’s future competitive differentiation, the...
by Stuart Cross | Aug 15, 2017 | Growth, Innovation, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace
When it comes to accelerating your business’s growth, pace is not about being reckless or taking unnecessary risks. There is a clear difference between pace and haste. If you try to reach top speed immediately, without going through the gears, you will simply stall....
by Stuart Cross | Aug 8, 2017 | Leadership, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace
There is a Japanese saying that translates as ‘you can’t chase two hares’. If a top-class hunting dog chases after a hare it has a 10% chance of catching it. But if the dog hedges its bets and tries to chase two at once, its success rate is reduced to nil. The dog...
by Stuart Cross | Jun 21, 2017 | Innovation, Leadership, Performance Improvement, Strategy
In yesterday’s post – see here – I set out that you had to be #1 in your market, in some form, or risk your ability to grow and thrive. But what are the different ways you can lead your market? Critically, it doesn’t need to be simply market share, though that can...
by Stuart Cross | Jun 7, 2017 | Leadership, Performance Improvement, Strategy
This is the first in 12 short articles expanding on my recent post, Strategic Power: A Manifesto to Revolutionise Growth A relatively little-known 1980s Elvis Costello song, I Want You, has these lines: The truth can’t hurt you It’s just like the dark – It scares you...
by Stuart Cross | Feb 14, 2017 | Innovation, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace
Fast, agile companies are relentless in using customer feedback to drive improvements and to make the necessary changes to accelerate growth and performance. In my latest book, First & Fast, I met with Andrew Stephenson, who created a market-leading...
by Stuart Cross | Nov 24, 2016 | Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace, Stuart's World
A few years ago, I was persuaded by some friends to cycle the Coast-to-Coast route across England, from Morecambe to Bridlington. So, although not a dedicated cyclist, I bought the bike, the shoes and the lycra outfits and spent some time on my local country roads...
by Stuart Cross | Nov 21, 2016 | Leadership, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace, Strategy
When new senior executives are appointed, they often talk about their 90-day plan. They want to make sure that they have some concrete achievements in their first three months so that they build commitment and momentum. But what about the next 90 days, and the 90 days...
by Stuart Cross | Oct 5, 2016 | Growth, Leadership, Performance Improvement, Simplicity, Speed and Pace, Strategy
Last week I spent a day with the top 150 executives of a major US home products business, looking at ways that they can increase the pace and urgency of their organisation. As ever, when I’m teaching or leading a workshop, I end up learning at least as much as the...
by Stuart Cross | Aug 24, 2016 | Leadership, Performance Improvement, Simplicity, Speed and Pace
Whenever I meet a business person, the most likely opening question I get asked is, “Are you busy?” This is unsurprising as it’s the first question executives tend to ask each other whenever they meet. The expected answer is, of course, “Yes” and this is seen as far...
by Stuart Cross | Jul 6, 2016 | Leadership, Performance Improvement
It’s that time of year again. Very soon, the schools will break for their summer vacation and many of us will be having a two-week break from work. With that in mind, your summer holidays are a great time to reflect on where you are now and what you should aim to...
by Stuart Cross | May 24, 2016 | Leadership, Performance Improvement
I am increasingly convinced that success requires a certain level of selfishness that many managers and executives are simply unwilling to reach. Rather than run the risk of upsetting a colleague or boss, they toe the line and end up delivering others’ objectives and...
by Stuart Cross | May 19, 2016 | Leadership, Performance Improvement
Contrary to conventional wisdom conflict is an essential characteristic of any high-performing team. Unlike weak teams and committees, which are full of people who keep their opinions to themselves when together, only to whine when outside the group, effective teams...
by Stuart Cross | May 17, 2016 | Innovation, Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace
When Boeing and other aeroplane manufacturers are developing new aircraft they literally test them to destruction. This ensures that the planes will still operate effectively even in the most extreme situations. It is a concept that I think should be applied to...
by Stuart Cross | May 13, 2016 | Performance Improvement, Stuart's World
I have recently sent out copies of my new book, First & Fast, to people who had signed up for a free copy. I attached a ‘large letter’ first class stamp to each package. It turns out the stamp was the incorrect postage – I needed to pay a higher rate because of...
by Stuart Cross | May 12, 2016 | Performance Improvement, Speed and Pace
If you are like many of the executives I work with, the #1 issue that limits your productivity is that you spend too much time on activities that add too little value. One of the causes of this drain on your time and energy are “quick win” projects. These projects...
