by mm46
It’s that time of the year again where companies engage in countless sales kick off meetings or company wide meetings, coming up with various strategies in a bid to prepare for the operational year. However, a pertinent question most often ignored by C-suite executive is: “What is the hedgehog of the company/organization? As an executive of your organization, taking time out to consider the questions in the image below and follow through might be the foundation you need to build your company on this year.
What the Hedgehog Concept is really about! The Hedgehog concept is based on an ancient Greek parable that states that: the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. In the parable, the fox uses many strategies to try to catch the hedgehog. It sneaks, pounces, races, and plays dead. And yet, every time, it walks away defeated, its tender nose pricked by spines. The fox never learns that the hedgehog knows how to do one big thing perfectly: defend itself.
Author, Researcher and Consultant Jim Collins in his book: “Good To Great” further developed this in application to the business world implying that the moment an organization can obtain clarity by identifying their Hedgehog (providing answers to the three questions in the image below), the organizations will more likely succeed. Immediately this happens (the Hedgehog Concept is identified), all resources should be pulled in the direction of developing and pursuing it because when the going gets tough, it’s the organizations that focus on what they’re good at that survive and thrive.
Identifying your Hedgehog is by no means a small feat, however, with consistency and the ability to ask the right questions, you and your management team can provide the answers that will lead to identifying your Hedgehog. Just in case you are wondering how to start, Metamor46 is equipped with the skills you need to facilitate a session with your management team to set the ball rolling.