Navigation means directing or managing something on its route; in other words, controlling movement from one place to another. Navigation means determining one’s position and direction and finding a way. Historically, the field of navigation has been most prominent in the air, sea and space, as the primary skill in successfully guiding aircraft, ships and rockets to their intended destinations. More recently, the term “navigation” has been used in a range of situational domains, including politics, relationships, ecosystems, and business.
How to best conduct business
Over the past 20 years, as I have led strategy workshops and provided strategic guidance to executive leadership teams, the question of how best to navigate the business has become a recurring theme for many effective leaders, as illustrated in the direct quote below Show:
“One of the things I’m grappling with is how best to address this with the team.”
“There are things I don’t know how to do, I don’t know how to navigate them.”
“This is the health care I want. This is what my family wants. Yes, it’s fragmented. It’s confusing not knowing how to navigate it, how are we going to solve this problem?
“Our market is becoming more competitive as non-traditional players come in, and I’m just trying to lead constructively.”
When Disney hired Bob Iger for a second term as CEO, the Wall Street Journal described his return as follows: “The Walt Disney Co. hires CEO to run its streaming business. When When Robert Iger returns, he must contend with a more challenging competitive environment than when he left less than three years ago.
The essential meta-skill of a leader is navigating the business through a thorough understanding of the current situation, a vision of the future destination, and the ability to create a path to get there. Competence and confidence come when you have the knowledge, tools, and skills to navigate your business. So, how do you acquire, maintain, and improve your ability to successfully navigate your business, starting from your current position, overcoming obstacles, and achieving your goals? This requires strategy on your part.
I created the following infographic to highlight the importance of leadership teams developing the ability to consistently set strategic direction to successfully navigate the business. If you and your team need proven processes and skilled strategic assistance to support setting direction for your business, please contact me to schedule a chat. Remember, be strategic and do your best.
