Dear Lewis: How can I devise a compelling strategy to appease an angry CEO?
A Fortune 100 Director seeks assistance in addressing a CEO's call for a strategy presentation.
Well, gather 'round, pals; it's time for another round of Dear Lewis.
Now, let me spill a little tale from the trenches. One of my coaching clients finds himself in a bit of a pickle. His boss just tossed him a hot potato, asking for a product strategy deck for the big-shot CEO.
Naturally, he's in panic mode. Luckily for him, I'm his trusty executive coach, here to lend a hand and spruce up his game. So, here's the lowdown on how we wiggled out of this tight spot.
Keep on truckin',
Lewis C. Lin
PS The holiday hustle is slowing down a bit, which means I've got a little more space in my schedule. If you've ever thought about diving into the world of executive coaching, now might be the perfect time. Check out the details on this page, and let's see if we can make some magic happen! 🌟
🤔 How can I devise a compelling strategy to appease an angry CEO?
So, picture this: Rafael (not his real name), a director at a BigTech gig, recently found himself in the middle of a real corporate storm. His boss, let's call her Jane, got a fiery email from the big cheese CEO, lighting a fire under Tom (not his real name), the Chief Product Officer. Pressure cooker vibes, and it looked like Tom was dancing on some pretty thin ice.
Now, in a corporate ballet move, Jane, sensing the storm clouds gathering, slyly tagged Rafael as the key player to whip up a product roadmap to cool down the CEO. Rafael, feeling the heat, hit me up for some executive coaching magic.
To tackle this mess, I threw Rafael a lifeline: the CIRCLES Method™, a nifty strategic framework to whip up killer product strategies and defuse this ticking time bomb. Here's the lowdown:
Comprehend the Situation: Get the 411 on the what, who, why, and how. Define the problem, goals, constraints, and success metrics.
Identify the Customer: Pick a customer segment, get artsy with a 2 x 2 matrix.
Report the Customer’s Needs: Tell your user stories, dig deep for hidden constraints.
Cut Through Prioritization: Sort your priorities using fancy frameworks like RICE.
List Solutions: Brainstorm like it's your job, throw out at least three ideas to flex those creative muscles.
Evaluate Tradeoffs: Think pros and cons, weigh the options.
Summarize Your Recommendation: Wrap it up in 20-30 seconds, lay out the benefits, and why your solution is the bee's knees.
So, Rafael and I hung out for a couple of hours, diving deep into CIRCLES. We noodled over some brainstorming, trying to figure out the headaches from the get-go, sorting out which customers mattered most, and cooking up some ideas to fix the hot mess on our plates. We kind of massaged the whole plan to make sure it danced smoothly with the crazy challenges Rafael faces in his director gig at BigTech. It was like strategic fine-tuning, but without all the fancy talk. Just a couple of pals figuring things out.
Now, why was CIRCLES Rafael's secret weapon? Well, for starters, it brought clarity and focus to the chaos. It's all about the customer, revenue, and impact, just like the CEO wanted. Plus, it showed Rafael's team that he's not afraid to pick favorites (in a good way) and encouraged them to dream big. The trade-off analysis? Oh, you know, just Rafael flexing his decision-making muscles.
Fast forward to the big reveal of Rafael's plan to Jane, armed with the CIRCLES wizardry. Jane, once sweating over the CEO's grumpy vibes, chilled out. The prioritization, the creativity, the clear communication—Rafael had her at hello.
Watching Rafael work his magic, Jane was over the moon. In a world of finger-pointing and snoozefest decisions, Rafael stepped into the limelight like he owned the joint. Jane praised his guts, his responsibility-taking mojo, and his knack for leading in a crisis. She saw Rafael not just saving the day but steering the whole team towards success.
Rafael's resilience and courage in the face of corporate chaos earned him Jane's nod of approval. The proposed product roadmap wasn't just a band-aid; it was a ticket to CEO-pleasing paradise. A round of applause for Rafael, the unsung hero in a world of office dramas.
Simple, right? Well, not always
I'm here to help. Email me if you have any management or employee challenges. I've got your back, and your identity will remain anonymous.
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