
"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat."
Sun Tzu
Military Strategist
- Date
From Chaos to Clarity: How One Leadership Team Elevated Their Business Strategy
posted in Business Coaching

Adam Kreek
The Challenge: A Business in Need of Strategic Focus
Leadership is not about reacting to problems—it’s about steering an organization toward long-term success. But even the best teams can get stuck in the day-to-day grind, losing sight of the big picture.
At a recent two-day strategic retreat in Victoria, British Columbia, a leadership team from a mid-sized service-based business faced this reality head-on. They came in with fragmented priorities, operational bottlenecks, and a need for greater strategic clarity. They left with a laser-focused roadmap for success.
Here’s how we worked together to transform their vision into an actionable plan—and how you can do the same.
Most companies don’t fail because of a lack of effort. They fail because their effort is scattered.
Step 1: Define the Big Levers of Growth
At the retreat, we identified five critical areas that would define success in the year ahead:
- Enhance General Management – Strengthen leadership and operational oversight to improve decision-making and execution.
- Boost Sales & Marketing – Drive more revenue through a targeted, high-impact approach.
- Invest in Our Staff – Develop key employees, particularly in operationally critical roles.
- Improve Customer Experience – Ensure consistent, exceptional service across all touchpoints.
- Increase Equipment Utilization – Maximize resource efficiency to reduce waste and increase profitability.
By focusing on these five priorities, the leadership team ensured every decision and dollar spent contributed directly to business growth.
Step 2: Align Leadership & Clarify Roles
One of the biggest issues holding organizations back? Role confusion and leadership misalignment.
At this retreat, we had a frank discussion about one leader’s future role. Where does his true value lie? What does he want, and how does that align with the company’s needs?
Rather than making vague promises or assumptions, the solution was simple: put the vision into a business plan. Now, this leader will present a roadmap that proves the strategic and financial value of his evolving role—ensuring alignment for both him and the organization.
Lesson: Clarity leads to accountability. If a leadership role is in flux, put it in writing.
Step 3: Set a Bold but Achievable Goal
Companies struggle when they chase too many goals at once. The most successful teams narrow their focus to one unifying priority.
This leadership team adopted a One Year Highly Achievable Goal (1HAG) centered on Operational & Sales Excellence.
This meant:
✔ Frontline Tech Education – Upskilling staff to deliver world-class services.
✔ Culture & Training Initiatives – Fostering a team that thrives on continuous learning.
✔ Driving New Business – Developing deeper relationships with key partners.
✔ Project Manager Pulse – Creating a system to measure leadership effectiveness.
The big takeaway?
When operations and sales improve, everything else follows.
Step 4: Use Data as a Competitive Advantage
Technology can be a game-changer—but only if you use it well.
One of the biggest issues this team faced was inconsistent data. They had the tools (Enterprise Resource Planning software and franchise resources) but weren’t maximizing their value. The software was not fully understood and was being underutilized.
The action plan?
🔹 Better data tracking to improve decision-making.
🔹 More reliable reporting to boost leadership visibility.
🔹 Optimized software use to create efficiency and clarity.
When a company has accurate, real-time data, it makes smarter decisions, develops better talent, and achieves consistent, repeatable success.
Step 5: Keep the Strategy Alive
One-off strategic planning sessions don’t work. Leaders need continuous accountability.
To keep momentum going, we built a Strategic Planning Board—a living, breathing visual guide to progress.
With clear action steps, the team committed to:
✔ Regular staff training & sales development
✔ Culture-building through best practices
✔ Implementing a more efficient operations structure
The Bottom Line?
Without a system to track progress, strategy dies in a pile of good intentions.
What This Means for You
If you’re a leader struggling to push your organization to the next level, ask yourself:
- Are your priorities clear and focused?
- Do your leadership roles align with your long-term vision?
- Is your organization using data and technology effectively?
- Are you tracking execution with a real strategy—not just a to-do list?
The most successful businesses don’t leave these things to chance. They create a system for growth and accountability.
Are You Ready to Lead at a Higher Level?
I help executives, entrepreneurs, and organizations drive growth, execution, and results in fiercely competitive environments.
Want to explore Executive Business Coaching, Strategic Planning, or a Keynote Session for your team?
📩 Let’s connect.
Onward and upward.