Emergent vs. Deliberate Strategy – Why It Matters

Emergent Strategy, or what some may call Accidental Success, is a concept that many of us have experienced at some point in our lives, whether it’s personally or professionally. It’s that feeling of achieving success without necessarily having a clear plan or strategy in place. However, while it may feel good to stumble upon success, it’s not a sustainable approach for long-term growth and development.

The truth is, in order to achieve sustainable success, you need to have a clear and intentional strategy in place. Without a map or direction, it can be challenging to arrive at your destination. This is where Emergent Strategy comes into play – it’s about recognizing that success can emerge from unexpected places, but also being intentional about creating a strategy to help guide that success.

So, how can you turn your Accidental Success into intentional and deliberate growth? Here are some key steps to consider:

1. Identify your goals: Before you can create a strategy, you need to know what you’re working towards. Take some time to reflect on your personal or professional goals and identify what success looks like to you.
   
   
2. Assess your current situation: Once you know where you want to go, take a look at where you are now. Assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to get a clear understanding of your current situation.
   
   
3. Develop a strategy: Based on your goals and current situation, develop a clear and intentional strategy that will guide your actions towards achieving success. This strategy should include specific goals, action steps, timelines, and metrics to track progress.
   
   
4. Stay flexible: Emergent Strategy is not about sticking to a rigid plan come hell or high water. It’s about being open to new opportunities and adjusting your strategy as needed to capitalize on those opportunities.
   
   
5. Measure your progress: Finally, it’s important to regularly measure your progress towards your goals. This will help you stay on track and make adjustments as needed to ensure you’re moving in the right direction.

Emergent Strategy is about recognizing that success can emerge from unexpected places, but also being intentional about creating a strategy to guide that success. By following the steps outlined above, you can turn Accidental Success into intentional growth and achieve sustainable success in your personal or professional life.

Are you searching for more ways to be deliberate about your success? Check out part I and part II on Strategy Management – Why It Matters.