SPOS #950 – Stephen Shapiro On How To Pivot In An Uncertain World
Sep 22, 2024
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In this discussion with Stephen Shapiro, a former leader at Accenture, listeners learn how he transformed his career from optimizing business processes to fostering innovation and job creation. He emphasizes anchoring to core strengths while navigating change, using the basketball pivot as a metaphor for stability in uncertainty. Shapiro critiques the chase for fleeting trends, advocating for deepening organizational differentiation instead. He also explores workplace evolution post-pandemic and the importance of emotional engagement in customer connections.
Stephen Shapiro emphasizes the importance of establishing stability by focusing on core strengths amidst market uncertainty, akin to a basketball pivot.
Organizations should prioritize their unique differentiators over fleeting trends to ensure sustainable growth and effective resource allocation.
A collaborative culture that encourages innovation while maintaining foundational principles is essential for long-term success in dynamic environments.
Deep dives
Affordable Access to Thought Leaders
A new initiative aims to provide organizations access to top thought leaders through personalized video experiences. This service offers affordable pricing, allowing companies to integrate insights from influential thinkers into their meetings and events. Organizations can now book live video sessions or receive tailored presentations from experts like Tom Peters and Rita McGrath. The focus is on enhancing corporate gatherings with meaningful content that promotes innovative thinking.
Emphasizing Timeless Principles in Business
The central theme of a new book, 'Pivotal,' is the importance of focusing on timeless principles rather than constantly pivoting towards what's new. This approach encourages organizations to identify and reinforce what truly matters within their operations, promoting stability amidst the chaos of changing market demands. The discussion highlights that during periods of uncertainty, a sense of clarity around core values and objectives can mitigate employee stress and confusion. Focusing on what works allows businesses to navigate challenges more effectively and maintain direction.
Discerning Opportunities from Distractions
The book underscores the need for companies to differentiate true opportunities from distractions that can detract from their core missions. During the pandemic, many businesses reacted hastily to emerging trends without critically evaluating their effectiveness or alignment with long-term goals. Instead of pursuing every new trend, companies are encouraged to hone in on their unique strengths, ensuring that resources are allocated where they can provide the most value. This strategic focus fosters a more sustainable growth model by minimizing noise and maximizing impact.
The Importance of Core Work and Differentiators
A framework is presented that categorizes work into three types: support, core, and differentiating. Most companies often invest too heavily in core work, which is necessary but does not differentiate them in the marketplace. By refocusing efforts on understanding their unique differentiators, organizations can make better investments in innovation that lead to lasting competitive advantage. Collaborating with partners for support work can free internal resources to concentrate on what truly sets the business apart.
Dynamic and Sustainable Innovation
To foster innovation, businesses must embrace a dynamic model that encourages adaptation without sacrificing their foundational strengths. This involves continuously assessing market conditions, societal shifts, and technological advancements while maintaining focus on the unique capabilities that define them. Encouraging a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing across the organization helps to ensure every employee contributes to the innovation process. A mindset that prioritizes deepening relationships with clients and partners while responding to external changes is vital for long-term success.
Welcome to episode #950 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.
Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast - Episode #950. My good friend, Stephen Shapiro, is not one to take the standard approach to anything. As the former leader of Accenture’s business process reengineering practice, he realized that optimizing business efficiency was leading to layoffs - a direction he didn't want to pursue. So, instead of continuing on that path, Stephen pivoted. He built Accenture’s 20,000-person innovation practice and refocused his efforts on growth and job creation. From there, Stephen became a full-time speaker and author, helping organizations from 3M to Nike rethink how they tackle innovation. In our latest conversation (he has been on the show multiple times), Stephen shares insights from his new book, Pivotal - Creating Stability In An Uncertain World. It’s all about anchoring yourself in what shouldn’t change, even as everything else spins around. He likens it to a basketball pivot - one foot stays planted while the other moves, creating both stability and flexibility. Stephen argues that, too often, businesses are caught chasing the next shiny thing, while what truly matters gets neglected. Instead of scattering resources, Stephen suggests that organizations focus on deepening their core strengths and identifying their differentiators. It’s the planted foot - the foundation - that holds the key to long-term success. We also discuss the importance of creating a culture that supports slow, thoughtful innovation, rather than the kind of chaotic sprinting that leaves teams burned out. Companies like Apple are great examples, doubling down on services and ecosystems that reinforce their unique strengths. Stephen emphasized that the best innovation isn’t always fast - it’s about having the patience to focus on the right direction. He is also the author of many other books (here are two other that I love: Invisible Solutions, Best Practices Are Stupid) and his game, Personality Poker. Enjoy the conversation...
