As 2024 draws to a close, many of us are navigating the year’s final challenges, from wrapping up projects to planning for the holiday season. It’s a busy time, but also an opportune moment to reflect and set the foundation for what lies ahead.

At our recent Business Leaders Forum, we explored how strategy is evolving in today’s fast-paced world. Long-term plans spanning five or more years are no longer feasible in many industries. Instead, the key to success lies in agility. It’s not about predicting every twist and turn but having a clear “light on the hill”—a vision that guides your organisation and empowers employees to make decisions aligned with that purpose.

Why does strategic decision-making often fail? We identified seven common pitfalls:

1. Lack of vision or purpose – Without a clear direction, efforts become scattered.
2. Poor situational awareness – Failing to recognise and adapt to changing circumstances.
3. Involving the wrong people – Excluding critical voices or perspectives can derail decisions.
4. Avoiding tough decisions – Delaying difficult choices only compounds challenges.
5. Unsound decision-making processes – Lack of structure leads to inconsistency and error.
6. Weak understanding of risk and strategy – Overlooking how risks interplay with strategic goals.
7. Short-term distractions – Immediate issues take precedence over essential future planning.

As we approach 2025, now is the time to ensure your organisation avoids these traps. Establishing a vision and empowering your team to make decisions with that vision in mind is the first step toward an agile strategy that thrives amidst uncertainty.

Please contact your Harris Black team member if you would like to explore this further, we can deliver vision workshops and tools to help you take the first steps towards building an agile strategy for 2025.

Here’s to a successful close to 2024 and an exciting new year ahead!