Be Strategic or Be Gone:
Strategic Thinking for Competitive Advantage

A study of more than 10,000 senior executives showed that the #1 most important leadership behavior critical to company success is strategic thinking. But, only three out of every 10 managers are strategic. And since bad strategy is the main cause of business failure 80% of the time, having managers that are effective strategists can be the difference between continued success and failure.

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Highlights From a Rich Horwath Keynote Speech

Strategy Unplugged: From Zero to Strategy in 60 Minutes

Ask 10 people for their definition of strategy and you’re likely to get ten different answers. This inconsistent understanding of strategy leads to bad strategy. In fact, 67% of managers surveyed said their organizations were bad at developing strategy. Result: the #1 cause of business failure is bad strategy. If you and your team don’t understand strategy today, you may not have a business tomorrow.

Insight: The Key to Unleashing the Power of Innovation

Consider the most successful products, services, and experiences of our time, from the iPhone to Uber to Cirque du Soleil. What do they all have in common? They all began with an insight. A study of more than 5,000 executives showed that the most important innovation trait for managers is the ability to come up with insights. But, the research also showed that only 35% of managers believe their strategies are built on insights. Products and services not built on insights become “me-too” commodities wrestling in the dirt for scraps of business.

The Sales Strategist: Becoming an Elite Strategic Sales Force

In today’s competitive environment, great sales leaders and experienced sales reps don’t need another basic selling skills seminar or motivational mumbo jumbo. What they need is the ability to quickly diagnose a business situation, develop a differentiated strategy, and create new value for customers — that’s what drives business. In fact, research with thousands of sales executives showed that the two most important attributes contributing to sales manager excellence are strategy and innovation.

Strategy for You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want

Are you where you want to be in your career? Are you where you want to be in your life? You and you alone can set your strategic direction. You and you alone will decide if you’ve reached your full potential. You and you alone will look back on your life with great joy or great regret. The choice is yours. Strategy is the power to get from where you are today, to where you want to go — the power to live strategically.

New York Times Bestselling Author On Strategic Thinking

Here is an overview of Rich’s experience, expertise, and keynote speeches.

Keynote Speeches