Why strategic growth starts with a sharp diagnosis

“We need to grow more and faster.”
A familiar statement in many boardrooms. But what if growth does not accelerate, despite ambition, plans and commitment? Too often, the cause lies not outside, but within the organization. Not in the market, but in a lack of focus, choices and clarity.

In this blog, we show why a sharp diagnosis is essential for strategic growth, and how it OGSM model can help with that.

Ambition without a diagnosis remains vague

Many organizations start strategic planning with the formulation of goals. Grow, innovate, become more sustainable, all legitimate ambitions. But without a clear analysis of the actual bottlenecks, strategy remains vague. You get plans that sound good on paper, but don't change much in practice.

A (painful) example: in a sales team, one named “market conditions” as a reason for stagnation, another “lack of focus”, a third “a little bit of everything”. The result? No clear direction. No ownership. No action.

Real strategy starts with daring to choose

The key lies in making the right diagnosis. That takes courage. Courage to look honestly at what's wrong, where cooperation stops, where choices are postponed or avoided. As one of the participants said sharply:
“Our problem is not the market, but that we don't choose internally.”

That clarity suddenly makes strategy concrete. Because only when you know what there is a pinch, you can determine how you have to send.

OGSM: from analysis to action

This is where the OGSM model comes into play. OGSM stands for:

• Objective — What is the overarching goal?
  
• Goals — What concrete results do we want to achieve?
  
• Strategies — What choices do we make to get there?
  
• Measures — How do we measure progress and success and where do the actions lie?
  
  

What makes OGSM powerful is that it forces sharpness:

• Ambitions must be measurable.
  
• Strategies must come from real causes.
  
• Each measure must be logically in line with the chosen direction.
  

Without a clear diagnosis, OGSM remains superficial. But with an honest analysis, it offers a practical compass for leaders who dare to choose.

How do you get started?

A good diagnosis starts with daring to ask questions:

• Where are we stuck?
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• What do we avoid naming?
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• What is really missing in direction?
  
  

Combine this with an OGSM approach and you get a strategy that is not only ambitious, but also executable.

Strategy requires sharpness, not vague phrases or slogans

Strategic growth isn't about working harder or planning more. It's about seeing the right things and daring to choose and want to act accordingly. Honest diagnosis and clear choices form the basis for every effective strategy. And the OGSM model helps to extend that line to concrete, measurable action.

Would you like to know more about how OGSM can help make a sharp diagnosis and shape strategic growth? Contact us or download here a free OGSM template to get started right away.

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