Are Your Managers Strategic?

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

3 strategic thinking disciplines: Action, Acumen, Allocation
  • 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
    • Deep Dive workbook
    • Strategic thinking software
    • Strategic thinking journal
    • Individual strategic counsel

What organizations have benefited from Rich's work?

  • Abbott
  • Adidas
  • Alcan Packaging
  • Amgen
  • Association for Corporate Growth
  • Baxter
  • Bangor Hydro Electric
  • Dewberry Architectural Engineering
  • Genzyme Diagnostics
  • Hospira
  • Mizuho
  • Novartis
  • Pfizer
  • Professional Convention Management Association
  • Progress Software
  • Society for Healthcare Strategy
  • Society for Human Resource Management
  • Young President's Organization

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

Strategic Counsel

As a senior executive, you may find yourself facing the following challenges:

  • Trying to find time in an already overbooked schedule to develop fresh new ideas for the business.
  • Everything you say within the organization is highly scrutinized and has significant impact on activity and the culture.
  • It's extremely difficult for you to get objective feedback on your ideas because very few people in the organization will risk disagreeing with you.
  • Because you devote so much time to leading the organization and developing the next group of leaders, you have no time to address your own skill development needs.

If one or more of these challenges sound familiar, then you may find value in outside Strategic Counsel. As a former Chief Strategy Officer and now President of the Strategic Thinking Institute, Rich has provided Strategic Counsel to C-Suite executives, Presidents, General Managers and Vice Presidents in an effort to overcome these challenges and enhance their effectiveness.

Outside Strategic Counsel has the following benefits:

  1. Provides a fresh source of concepts, ideas and strategic insights that you can use to stimulate your business.
  2. Gives you a safe harbor to "think aloud" without having to carefully edit each thought as you do when speaking to members within the organization.
  3. Allows for honest, objective feedback because there are no "politics" involved.
  4. Creates a source of developmental tools and activities to build your skill sets.

Strategic Counsel engagements are structured in six month or twelve month time frames. Please contact Rich at (847) 756-4707 to discuss your individual needs.

One-to-One Deep Dive Strategist Program

For individuals serious about building their strategic capabilities, the One-to-One Deep Dive Strategist Program is the perfect fit. Designed for people interested in raising their strategy IQ and developing strategic thinking skills to improve their business performance, the program will give you the knowledge and tools to:

  1. Create winning strategies to profitably grow the business.
  2. Make key strategic trade-offs to focus resources for maximum success.
  3. Strategically lead work groups with confidence for greater productivity.
  4. Position yourself as the best candidate for a higher role in the organization.
  5. Think strategically on a daily basis to outperform peers and competitors.

There are three programs based on the individual needs of the participant. Each of the three programs is delivered virtually to provide the participant with the most convenient, timesaving and cost-effective way to become a more effective strategic thinker. Programs begin with assessments of both the organization and individual to baseline strategy competencies. Materials are packaged in digital formats online and instruction takes place via email, phone, internet, etc. as warranted. Participants of all programs also receive an additional month of strategic counsel with Rich Horwath, including two phone calls and unlimited email.

Three Programs

1. Basic Strategist
The Basic Strategist Program is three months of strategic thinking skill development for those who have had limited formal exposure to strategy concepts and tools. Participants will learn the foundational principles of strategy, such as how to create and align goals, objectives, strategies and tactics, the proper way to conduct a SWOT Analysis, and tools for making strategic trade-offs to prioritize activities. The fee for the Basic Strategist Program is $2,995 and required to begin the process, or to claim a place on the waiting list. The fee is non-refundable, no exceptions.

2. Advanced Strategist
The Advanced Strategist Program is three months of strategic thinking skill development for those who have had some formal exposure to strategy and are looking to expand their skill sets. Fundamental strategy concepts and tools are coupled with more advanced topics such as developing a Strategy Profile, mapping new customer growth areas, and developing a visual representation of the business on one page. The fee for the Advanced Strategist Program is $4,995 and required to begin the process, or to claim a place on the waiting list. The fee is non-refundable, no exceptions.

3. Master Strategist
The Master Strategist Program is three months of strategic thinking skill development for those who are in senior-level positions with strategic leadership responsibilities for a business unit or company. Content is designed to increase the strategic leader’s tool kit with high-level topics such as setting mission/vision /values, creating competitive advantage and developing a strategy blueprint for the business. The fee for the Master Strategist Program is $6,995 and required to begin the process, or to claim a place on the waiting list. The fee is non-refundable, no exceptions.

Note: Programs are not currently available to individual consultants, trainers or speakers.

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ranked the #1 speaker at the 2007 society for healthcare strategy's national conference
Ranked the #1 speaker on strategy at the 2009 Virginia Society for Human Resource Mgt. Conference
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"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.

"Rich is the author of an outstanding book on strategic thinking entitled, Deep Dive. He is extremely knowledgeable on the topic of strategic thinking and has a knack for teaching the fundamentals to others. He is a dynamic speaker who demonstrates key learnings extremely well. Rich has developed a Strategy Vault of Strategic Resources to sustain his training. I have enjoyed working with Rich."

Terry Walsh
Associate Director Leadership Training
Novartis

"Your strategy program was inspiring and right on point. I observed that my team was able to take the concepts and tools you presented and immediately apply them in our meeting. Your practical explanation of some rather intangible concepts made the difference. I honestly believe that all participants left this week as better "strategists" with a clear understanding of how strategic thinking is an ongoing process that, when properly employed, will lead us to the competitive advantage we seek."

Steve Lamb
President & COO
Mizuho

"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