NL
We are halfway through the year. What year will 2025 be?
Half a year has passed. A great time to evaluate, reflect, adjust and set course.
scheduling
From symptom management to strategic focus: are you steering on the right things?
Introduction
Many organizations want to improve their performance: smoother processes, more rest in teams, better results. However, the word “strategy” rarely comes up at first. The focus is often on visible problems, project delays, unclear goals, and internal noise. But are those the real bottlenecks? In this blog, we show why managing symptoms rarely leads to sustainable improvement, and how strategic acuity, supported by the OGSM model, makes the difference between continuing to adjust or really moving forward.
From symptom management to strategic focus: are you steering on the right things?
Many organizations want to see better results. More focus in teams. Better ongoing projects. Goals that are being achieved. But strategy is often not considered when looking for improvement. Instead, organizations are stuck with visible symptoms: unrest, inefficiency, frustration. Recognizable?
In this blog, we explore how to achieve structural improvement by focusing not on symptoms, but on the strategic cause. And how the OGSM model can help you do that.
Identifying symptoms is easy. But do they solve the real problem?
Listen carefully to the complaints within an organization, and you often hear the following:
- “Our teams are restless.”
- “We're not achieving our goals.”
- “Projects stick around.”
- “Departments work side by side.”
These are not unimportant signs. On the contrary, they are symptoms of something deeper. But what is rarely pronounced immediately are the underlying strategic causes. For example:
- “Our value proposition is not sharp.”
- “We don't make real choices.”
- “Our strategy is too broad and lacks focus.”
And that is where the key to real change often lies.
Why treating symptoms doesn't work
It makes sense to respond to what is visible. Symptoms cause anxiety and require action. But if you keep optimizing without examining your strategic foundation, the same problems will keep coming back, in new forms.
Do you want real progress? Then you have to dare to dwell on fundamental questions:
- What do we really solve?
- Who do we do that for?
- Why are we the right party for that?
These questions are the start of strategic sharpness.
From vision to execution with focus with OGSM
A powerful tool for applying this sharpness is the OGSM model. OGSM stands for:
- Objective — Where do we want to go?
- Goals — How do we measure success?
- Strategies — What choices do we make?
- Measures — How do we track and adjust?
With OGSM, you bring coherence between your vision, objectives and implementation. It helps you make choices and stick to them, even when there is pressure or noise.
What OGSM delivers in concrete terms:
- A clear course, supported by the entire team.
- Objectives that are measurable and motivating.
- Strategic choices that give direction to your work.
- A clear structure for monitoring progress.
Fix the foundation — and the rest follows
Without a solid foundation, you will continue to build on quicksand. More consultation, more reports or rearranging teams again won't solve much. Those who dare to strengthen the strategic basis pave the way for sustainable improvement.
Are you already pointing out the cause? Or still on the symptoms?
Strategic sharpness requires guts and structure. OGSM offers you a concrete model for combining both. So you no longer put out fires, but work for real change.
Do you want to know more about our approach and how to apply OGSM to your situation?
Click here whether contact us.
Prefer to get started right away?
Download here a free OGSM template and take the first step towards structural improvement today.
