Strategic Thinking for Competitive Advantage

Why would your group benefit from a program on strategy and strategic thinking?

  • "The most important competency for a leader to possess is the ability to develop strategy1."
  • "95% of a company's employees don't understand its strategy2."
  • "Only 4% of leaders at all levels in a company are strategic.3"
  • Companies with a clearly defined strategy outperformed those without one by:
    • 304% in profit margin;
    • 332% in total sales;
    • 833% in total return to shareholders over a 10-year period.4

Why choose to work with Rich Horwath?

EXPERIENCE

  • Former Chief Strategy Officer
  • Ten years working with world-class clients such as Abbott, Adidas, and Pfizer.

EXPERTISE

  • Author of four books and more than 50 articles on strategy.
  • Professor of strategy, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

EXCELLENCE

  • Ranked the #1 speaker out of 162 at the Society of Healthcare Strategist's National Conference.
  • Top-rated professor of strategy with a 4.9 out of 5 rating for teaching effectiveness.

Rich's programs can help your managers learn how to:

  • Apply the three disciplines of strategic thinking on a daily basis.
  • Create differentiated strategy to grow profits.
  • Improve strategic decision making to maximize productivity.
  • Discover four sources for generating new business insights.
  • Write clear and effective strategies using the Strategy Formula.
  • Draw a Strategy Profile to visualize strategy versus competitors.
  • Build an Activity System Map to provide a complete picture of the business.
  • Use models to visualize key business insights and communicate strategy.
  • Design a StrategyPrint to create a real-time strategic action plan.

What formats are available?

  • 60-90 minute keynote speech
  • Half-day, full-day and multi-day workshops
  • Comprehensive management development solutions including:
    • Strategic thinking assessments
    • Group workshops
    • Books and articles
    • 160-page workbook
    • Strategic thinking software
    • Strategic thinking journal
    • Individual strategic counsel

What other organizations have benefited from Rich's work?

  • Abbott
  • Adidas
  • Alcan Packaging
  • Amgen
  • Baxter
  • Dewberry Architectural Engineering
  • Genzyme Diagnostics
  • Hospira
  • Pfizer
  • Professional Convention Management Association
  • Progress Software
  • Society of Healthcare Strategists
  • Society of Human Resource Management

1. American Management Association
2. Kaplan, HBR
3. Torbert & Kegan
4. Nohria, HBR

Contact Rich today at (847)756-4707 or email to discuss your team's needs.

"Thank you for an excellent presentation on strategic thinking and strategic planning for Pfizer's management team. Your professional and engaging presentation style combined with an expert command of the subject of strategy met and exceeded Pfizer's high expectations. Most importantly, the region's managers were able to take the information and tools you presented and begin implementing them the following week to positively impact their business."

Dan Linden
National Director
Pfizer, Inc.

"Thank you for your superb presentation at last week's Society of Human Resource Management National Strategy Conference in Tampa, Florida. For me, it was by far the most memorable, most educational, and most dynamic of all the sessions I attended. You took a complex topic and condensed it into an easy-to-understand and entertaining event—a task not achievable by many. You are a gifted and dynamic teacher and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to sit under your instruction."

Tami R. Spear, SPHR
Director of Human Resources
Avis Goodwin

"Thank you for delivering the Keynote Speech at our North American Partner Kickoff Meeting. Your session on Strategic Thinking for Competitive Advantage was entertaining, thought-provoking and yet practical for a large audience of senior executives. It was exactly what we hoped for and was a big hit with the audience."

Bob Palumbo
Vice President, Partner Development
Progress Software

"Rich does an excellent job in assisting individuals throughout various levels of an organization understand that while strategy is a somewhat abstract and intangible concept, there are a variety of tools and methods available to practically apply it to their business. His presentations and workbooks are thoughtfully constructed, understandable and useful in leading a group through a comprehensive and objective analysis of their business that ultimately results in action plans focused on differentiating themselves from the competition. His grasp of the topic of strategy along with a comfortable and upbeat presentation style is effective in facilitating strategic thinking and strategy skills development."

Jerry Casey
Senior Vice President
Genzyme Diagnostics

"Rich is a very effective presenter and focuses on engaging his audience while at the same time challenging them to think differently. The combination of his strategy expertise, ability to tailor a program, and comprehensive set of tools resulted in advancing our organizational competency in strategic thinking."

Lisa Hempy
Director
Amgen