Senior leaders today have the unenviable task of making decisions around difficult strategic issues, where people come into discussions with preconceived notions, and where data can be skewed to support pre-existing perspectives. We experience this regularly in our work helping top leadership teams navigate disruptive change: Should they sustain the core business or create new growth businesses? Should they invest in a hot new technology or take more of a wait-and-see approach? These are rich questions that can’t be answered clearly, even in hindsight.
Building Consensus Around Difficult Strategic Decisions
Making future-focused decisions in an uncertain world presents fundamental challenges for leaders. When we’re talking about the future, data is by definition incomplete, so we’re often relying on assumptions and personal beliefs. People often come into discussions with preconceived notions, and data can be skewed to support pre-existing perspectives. So how can leaders get clarity on the best path forward? The authors of this article have developed a tool that they call “strategic sparring sessions.” These are immersive, interactive discussions specifically designed to help groups see through the fog that accompanies today’s predictable unpredictability. These sessions help teams align on key assumptions, build conviction on a path forward, and activate individual and collective change.