Offense, Defense, and the Power of a Clearly Articulated Plan

What’s the next big thing you’re working on as the CEO of your business? Is it an offensive move or a defensive one? Or is it both?

Most printing company leaders I talk to can rattle off a few of their key priorities. Maybe it’s new equipment, a technology enhancement, a sales initiative, or a leadership hire. But when I ask a few follow-up questions:

Do you have the right people in place? Are resources lined up to execute on all cylinders? What will the impact be to your customers, your team, and your business if you get this right...the answers often start to trail off.

It’s not that the ideas aren’t good. It’s that the plan behind them isn’t clear enough. It hasn’t been gamed enough to identify the true resources and time needed and the overall impact the plan can have.

The Offense vs. Defense Mindset

Running a print business today requires both.

• Offense means proactively creating new opportunities like developing new markets, products, and customer experiences that move the business forward (and don’t forget trying to hire good people).
• Defense means protecting what you’ve built by shoring up processes, improving on-time performance, and reinforcing customer loyalty.

The most successful CEOs I work with understand how to balance the two–and it’s not easy! They’re not chasing shiny objects, and they’re not simply reacting to problems. They’re intentional. And while they have a clear line of sight from strategy to execution, they’re not naïve enough to overlook the potential pitfalls that lay ahead. And if anything, they make sure that everyone on their team knows how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

The Power of Clarity

A clearly articulated plan isn’t about having a binder full of charts or an annual off-site where big ideas fade after 90 days. It’s about focus and accountability from top to bottom.

When you can say, “Here’s what we’re going to do, here’s why it matters, here’s who’s responsible, and here’s how we’ll know it’s working,” everything changes:

• Your leaders step up.
• Your unofficial leaders step up.
• Your teams align around priorities.
• Your customers feel the impact through your consistency and follow-through.

Without that clarity, the business can easily drift into a reaction mode. Execution gets spotty. Meetings become updates instead of decisions. And the “next big thing” becomes just another good idea that never quite materializes.

The Real Impact

When a CEO and leadership team align around a clearly defined initiative, the results transcend throughout the company.

• For customers, it means a more reliable experience and one that builds trust and repeat business.
• For the team, it creates purpose and momentum.
• For the business, it creates the confidence that attracts talent, new opportunities, and growth.

Your Next Move

So, back to that opening question: What’s the next big thing you’re working on?

And equally important, is your plan clear enough that everyone around you could explain, execute and rally behind it?

If not, maybe it’s time to pause and reset. Take a page from the best leaders in this industry: Before you chase the next initiative, align your team and clarify your intent. Then you can build the plan that turns motion into momentum.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic assessments, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.

The preceding content was provided by a contributor unaffiliated with Printing Impressions. The views expressed within may not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of the staff of Printing Impressions. Artificial Intelligence may have been used in part to create or edit this content.