Author: George Liacos
How to think more strategically: Golden Thread: Insights (Part 1)
Strategic execution and strategic planning can’t be without strategic thinking. We find this is often the missing link when it comes to strategy in any organisation.
We build our strategic thinking muscle using a range of techniques and tools as outlined in my book Spark Change.
When thinking strategically you want to be able to tie all your thoughts, research, communications and narratives together… and to something.
The third Spark I’d like to introduce you to is Golden Thread.
How to think more strategically
The ‘golden thread’ is a mental exercise that forces you to seek to align with and connect back to a central theme or purpose, whatever you may be thinking about or working on.
The golden thread of strategy isn’t just a poetic turn of phrase; it’s a tangible thinking discipline that can light the path in the darkest of strategic and complex mazes. Think of it as the backbone of your strategy, a sorting filter and a unifying element that aligns all the thinking. It prevents you from diluting your efforts and wandering aimlessly, especially when the landscape is foggy and uncertain.
The golden thread is inextricable from the concept of alignment. When we talk about alignment, we refer to a systemic consistency, a harmonisation of mission, objectives, actions and measurements. Using this framework properly creates an organisational alignment so resilient it can withstand turbulence from market fluctuations or internal disruptions.
Executing strategic thinking: a case study
Application of the golden thread is not about arriving at a utopian state of perfect alignment. Rather, it’s about establishing a dynamic equilibrium that enables you to adjust strategies and objectives without losing sight of your ultimate goal.
It ensures that every operational decision, every project initiated, every metric used for performance evaluation, is a stitch in the fabric of your organisation’s larger tapestry.
To see the Golden Thread in action, lets look to our friends, Feeding Futures.
Feeding Futures, a nonprofit organisation with a vision to eradicate child hunger, found itself grappling with diverse projects — from educational programs and community outreach to meal distribution and fundraising campaigns.
The challenge wasn’t the lack of enthusiasm or resources; it was the lack of a unifying strategic thread that connected all these functions to the ultimate goal of the organisation: eradicating child hunger.
Feeding Futures implemented the golden thread approach to infuse every project, every decision and every metric with a sense of purpose tied directly back to the mission.
The transformation was nearly instant. Teams that were previously siloed began to collaborate, not because they were told to, but because they realised their activities were different chapters in the same story.
The fundraising team, for example, not only focused on raising funds but on ensuring that the collected resources would directly contribute to either educating communities on nutrition or funding meals for children in need. The program designers started structuring educational content that wasn’t just informational but transformative, equipping communities to contribute to the mission.
In a year, Feeding Futures saw a forty per cent increase in overall mission effectiveness, measured not just in funds raised or meals distributed, but in long-term sustainable impacts like improved community awareness and reduced child malnutrition rates.
By consistently adhering to the golden thread, Feeding Futures transformed itself into an organisation that was not just doing good but was also effective and aligned.
Resources & Support
So how can you use the Golden Thread in your own work? Stay tuned for our next post with tips and tricks to harness the benefits of this Spark.
This is why I wrote the book Spark Change, developed the Strategic Thinking Masterclass, and have released The Spark Strategic Leader ™ Subscription Program – all to help our sector’s leaders build the strategic thinking muscle.
Contact us at info@sparkstrategy.com.au to find out more.
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