Strategy vs. Strategy Execution: Which is More Important?
A couple of years ago, I was contacted by a large business looking for a business strategy consultant to help them
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Why Cash Flow is the Key to Business Growth
For any business, cash is the fuel for growth. If you run out of cash, it’s not like Monopoly. You don’t get to
How Business Owners Can Tap into the Power of Peers
For many business owners, building your business is a lonely journey. You may not be able to talk to your staff a
Say Sayonara to Vision and Mission Statements and Do This Instead
In traditional strategic planning, you always start with a vision and a mission. The vision is a lofty goal you’r
How to Run Valuable Weekly Meetings That Don’t Suck
Let’s face it – no one likes meetings. But done right, running a weekly meeting with your team can help drive a
4 Ways to Create a Culture of Accountability in Your Business
Accountability.
It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot in the
5 Mistakes Leaders Make When Creating Goals for Their Strategic Plan
There are common traps that business leaders fall into in setting the goals for their strategic plans. Every single
How to Create Big Goals to Inspire Your Team
Ever wondered how to get your team to rally around a common goal and be incredibly motivated to work towards it? Th
What is Business Strategy?
If you had to come up with a definition of strategy without looking it up, chances are you’d define it as somethi
What to Do When You Graduate from Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)
If you’ve implemented EOS within your business, you’ve built a great foundation for success…but graduating fr
The Pros and Cons of a Business Coach vs a Business Consultant…and Why it Matters
For several years, I was a strategic consultant helping clients transform their businesses. Far too often I would g
Growth Accelerator for Small Business
I’m really excited to formally launch the Growth Accelerator for small business. While I love working with mid-sized businesses, this progr
Six Key Questions Every Business Needs to Answer
If you’re looking to build a healthy, scalable business, the first thing you need to do is create clarity.
Learning Community: How to Develop Level 5 Leaders in your Business
A GOOD TO GREAT® EVENT – HOW TO DEVELOP LEVEL 5 LEADERS
In partnersh
Building High Performance Teams with Patrick Lencioni
HOW TO PURPOSE-BUILD TEAMS AND BOOST PERFORMANCE TO SUCCEED IN A POST-PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT
The trend of businesses relying
How to create a vivid 3-year vision for your business (that you can actually achieve)
I was recently speaking with a business owner about the future of his business. When asked, she told me (confidently), that they would be a $30 m
The power of small incremental improvements
What if you could make a 1% improvement this quarter? How would that impact your business?
If you applied it to revenue, a $10mm annual reve
How to systematize your business
If you want to scale your business, no matter its size, one of the most important things you can do is to systematize it.
I don’t mean you
Learning Community: Turning the Flywheel with Jim Collins
CREATE MOMENTUM FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
In partnership with Growth Faculty, we are delighted to offer you $50 discount to
Learning Community: Impact Players by Liz Wiseman
Join us as Liz Wiseman author of New York Times bestseller Multipliers, discusses her new book: IMPACT PLAYERS: How to Take
How to Handle the Brilliant (but Toxic) Jerk
Putting up with brilliant jerks is one of worst things you can do for your organization.
We have all known several of them: they’re amazin
Learning Community: How to multiply the genius and productivity of your team
What’s the difference between a leader that gets 200% productivity and another who gets less than 50%?
One is a multiplier, the other
How to Get the Right People in the Right Seats
Stardate 41153.7. We’re on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise.
The bridge crew efficiently works away at their functions. When a crisis
How to Hire the Right People
Filling a position is like taking a multiple choice exam. If you don’t study and prepare, you are likely to get some of the answers correct just
Learning Community: Culture in Strategy with David Friedman
How strong would you say your culture is? Is it enough to handle all the challenges we’re going through? COVID? Back to work? What about th
Why ‘Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast’ is WRONG
At a talk earlier this year, Jim Collins opened by informing us that Peter Drucker was wrong. I’m sure thousands of HR/Culture people had a heart
How to Create the Right Core Values for your Business
A few years ago I was called into a large business that was having problems with its culture.
While waiting for my meeting I noticed a beaut
Building an Inclusive and Diverse Culture
Building an inclusive and diverse culture is vital, and more simple than you think
It’s time to rebuild.
Learning Community Book Club: Never Split the Difference
We don’t negotiate with terrorists. (Yes, my young girls would be considered terrorists, and I lose constantly)
We don’t
How to Create a Strong Corporate Culture
“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” – Peter Drucker
Your culture defines who you are as a company. If you want to build
What is a Business Coach (And why every CEO should have one)
It’s lonely being a CEO. You’re juggling the demands of your company, family and personal life, all while trying to maintain some sembl
How to Create a Book Club in Your Business
One often overlooked element of a strong culture is that people learn and grow together. This is especially important at a small business, where th
How Do You Define a Great Life
‘Living a great life is doing what you love with the people you love.’ – Jim Collins
The Jim Collins quote above is a deceptively simp
How to Eat an Elephant
How Do You Eat An Elephant?
Have you ever had a task list so massive that you simply didn’t know where to start? The overwhelm paralyzes y
The Importance of Disciplined Execution
29%
I was recently at a client’s quarterly planning session, leading them through their review of the last quarter. It was rather shocking
Learning Community Recap: The Advice Trap
The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier is a personal favorite of mine. When I first read it last year my mind reeled – it was so easy to read,
Learning Community Book Club: BE (Beyond Entrepreneurship) 2.0
30 years ago Jim Collins began a journey to discover what made great businesses. Along the way, he wrote a number of books that line shelves of lea
Developing a Giving Mindset
We get by with a little help from our friends. Many hands make light work. A community is like a ship in which everyone must be prepared to take th
Dave Cavan has found his perfect role in industry
It has been said that luck is the intersection of preparedness and opportunity. An opportunity has come my way recently providing one of those
Learning Community Book Club: The Advice Trap
How would your life change if your team didn’t look to you for all the answers?
Wouldn’t it be nice?
Last year I read Mic
Learning Community Recap: Limitless by Jim Kwik.
In January, our learning communities met to share lessons learned from Limitless by Jim Kwik.
We picked this as our first book as it lays a
January #WisdomWednesday Roundup
Each week, I write a quick hit of “wisdom” on Wednesdays and post it to linkedin. I admit, I *LOVE* the short form, low maintenance writing sty
Learning Community: Learn from Jim Collins – The Roadmap to Greatness
Align your leadership team with the most significant thought leader of our time.
Important Work or Busy Work? Leaders Should Focus on Growth.
Every leader has important work and busy work to do.
Important work is made up of the items that push you and the business forward. It shoul
Clutch Rates Incrementa Top 15 Business Consultants of 2020
The Incrementa Family is
Executive Leadership Opportunity: Gravitas Impact Global Leadership Summit
A healthy and successful 2021 is on the top of every
How a part-time CFO can help you level up
An often-overlooked role in smaller businesses, a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) could make the difference in meeting your goals in the coming year.
Shannon Pearson’s new role in Industry
As they say, the only thing that is constant is change. (Actually, it was Heraclitus who said that).
I want to share that I’ve d
Organizational charts mean nothing if roles aren’t defined
It’s not uncommon for companies to have organizational charts. But here’s the catch: organizational charts mean nothing if roles aren’t defin
19 questions to jumpstart your strategic COVID-19 review
So much has happened in 2020.
Your first strategic planning session of 2021 should include a deep discussion about the lessons learned over
It’s time to reframe strategic planning
You know your company can and should be doing more. There are opportunities out there. Goals to achieve. You need a strategy.
Bu
Understanding anger and overcoming it
A red face, increased heart rate, tense expression, vocal tone changes—we’ve all seen it, experienced it, done it. Anger is a relatable emotion
Dealing with negative self-talk
“I am such an idiot”
“I can’t do it”
“I’m not good enough”
Several of the leaders I’ve been working with hav
The importance of taking time off
If you’re like most folks, taking time off from work hasn’t been a priority in 2020. Perhaps you had to postpone a trip, and decided to work th
The League of Superhero Service Providers: Nov 2!
Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of businesses? The League of Superhero Service Providers …
Join us on Monday, November 2nd, f
Why IT strategy is vital for business growth
Special thanks to guest author, Mark Olsson of MacGregor-Olsson Consulting
Ju
7 tips for freelancers navigating pandemic pricing pressures
Special thanks to guest author, Kirsten Anderson, Integrate Play Solutions
If budge
Communication 101: the importance of reframing
I recently took a course in mediation. What an eye opener. Watching my instructor masterfully manage a conversation in a way that I’ve never
Preparing for the second wave: how to create a COVID-19 contingency plan
With little doubt about a second wave of COVID-19 hitting us in the fall, there’s no time like the present to start preparing. Use this window to
3 ways to manage anger at work
There are at least 27 distinct human emotions. We’re dynamic beings who are meant to feel, even challenging and not so nice emotions.
Fun & conversation: the secret sauce of connected remote teams
Special thanks to guest author, Kirsten Anderson, Integrate Play Solutions
It felt like
Online Workshop: Shift to Thrive Fall 2020
It’s time to Shift to Thrive
How to create a culture of accountability
Accountability is defined by the Oxford Canadian Dictionary as being “the state of being accountable, liable, or answerable.” What doe
In crisis, cash is king: how best to manage it
Special thanks to guest author, Brant Friesen, CPA, CA, Performance Management Director, Rise Advisors
Mini book review: The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier
The Advice Trap is the follow up to The Coaching Habit, my favourite book on transforming your leadership through being more of a
What I wish I knew when I started my entrepreneurial journey, part three
Our third and final in the series of what I wish I’d known when I started my entrepreneurial journey wraps with advice on using your resource
What I wish I knew when I started my entrepreneurial journey, part two
If you missed last week’s post, the first in our series of entrepreneurship advice, no sweat—
What I wish I knew when I started my entrepreneurial journey, part one
What better day of the week (#TBT!) to roll out a three part series featuring advice from successful entrepreneurs on what you wish they’d kn
How to: managing cyber-risk in your organization
Special thanks to guest author, Dominic Vogel
Many small and midsize organization
Speed dating for consultants and service providers: June 24!
As many of you know, the family at Incrementa runs a LOT of events for our community. It’s fantastic getting so many opportunity to connect
The future of sales in a post COVID-19 world
153 days ago, on January 1, 2020, we couldn’t have imagined this. All of this. A global pandemic like we’ve never lived through.
And yet
Why there’s no better time to give and receive than during a crisis
It’s not unusual to have had, or still have, a scarcity mindset. The COVID-19 pandemic is an experience unlike any other in our lifetime. But ins
Getting back on track: Your COVID-19 Agile Growth Checklist
“Move forward, even if the plan isn’t 100%” – Mike Knapp
Sometimes, good enough is good enough. We’re all figuring th
Webinar Series: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis Week 3 – Thrive!
Survive, Adapt, Thrive
A webinar series for navigating the COVID-19 crisis
The crisis of our generation is here. Its impact is cr
Q&A: Learning from your customers during a global pandemic
Sales team strategies and plans continue to evolve
Manage change like a champion by leaning into your corporate values
Change management is no stranger to me. Ideally, change is managed in a controlled environment with all variables c
Webinar Series: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis Week 2 – Adapt!
Survive, Adapt, Thrive
A webinar series for navigating the COVID-19 crisis
The crisis of our generation is here. Its impact is cr
Volunteer to help fight COVID-19
Special thanks to guest author, Stacey Cerniuk of Annex Consulting
Introducing Annex Hel
Webinar Series: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis Week 1 – SURVIVE!
Survive, Adapt, Thrive
A webinar series for navigating the COVID-19 crisis
The crisis of our generation is here. Its impact is cr
36 tools, tips and resources to get you started as a facilitator
There comes a time in almost everyone’s career where they have to take a big step—run their first meeting, training program or brainstorming se
For your viewing pleasure: business resources readily available on Incrementa’s YouTube channel
It’s never going to win a Golden Globe, or even be binge-worthy like your favorite Netflix show, but Incrementa’s YouTube channel is he
Your people: the first and last line of cyber security defence
Special thanks to guest author, Michael Argast
Your team members are
How and why you need to double down on communications
With everything that’s happening this crisis—the remote work, social isolation, and roller coaster for your business, it’s vital that we doub
4 ways to reduce overwhelm
In these uncertain times, I’m hearing the stress in people’s voices as they crack over the phone and it shows in their faces over video cha
COVID-19 support resources
We’re in the worst crisis the world has seen more than a generation. The mass spread of COVID-19 is impacting everything and when we emerge from
The importance of leading with empathy through a pandemic
Being in conversation with many business owners and employees over the last few days I believe there is one thing we all share on some level:
How to plan for pandemics, disasters and the zombie apocalypse
For many of us, this is our first experience at a pandemic, and we (and our businesses) are not prepared. We’re having to learn as we go.
Where to find the most valuable business networking in the Fraser Valley
Please note that this event has been postponed due to COVID-19. We’ll provide updates as we’re able.
How to leverage employee and customer feedback
If you’re looking to make your business great, it’s important to build a process to gather feedback from your two mo
Take advantage of free money: why applying for business grants should be your number one priority
Special thanks to guest author, Stephanie Sang
Highly likely conversation heard and had by our ve
How to ensure your strategic business goals align with your cyber security measures: Mike Knapp on Cyber Monday
Our very own Mike Knapp was recently featured on Cyber Monday, a Conve
Incrementa’s Lower Mainland events look ahead January-June 2020
Please note that these events have been postponed due to COVID-19. We’ll provide updates as
Presentation problems: 3 ways to take back the room when on stage
Back in the fall, I was asked to speak at a full day conference in Vancouver. Little did I know that the speaking engagement would have me in both
What an annual planning session looks like
The team at Incrementa (un)consulting recently had our annual planning session.
Early with our clients, we go through a lot
Should I become a consultant?
For the last 20 years, I’ve “lived the life”. I’ve been self-employed as a consultant.
I charge ridonculous rates to tel
3 ways to keep top talent & reduce turnover: how to highlight career opportunities and hold onto human capital
Special thanks to guest author, Sofia Arisheh
It can be a tough market attr
How to make 2020 your decade
2020 is here. It’s more than a new year, it’s a new decade. An opportunity to boldly set forth and make it your decade.
The Fraser Valley Breakfast Club 2020: Creating true teamwork & trust
Join us for our third round of the Fraser Valley Breakfast Club!
Incrementa (un)consulting and
Year in review: your top 5 favourite Incrementa (un)consulting blogs
With the year closing out, we’re recapping our top blogs, as voted by you. Here’s the content that you visited the most.
1.
Top 5 questions asked (and answered) when selling a business
Special thanks to guest author, Axel Christiansen
“They’re read
Mini book review: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
In April of 2019 I had the opportunity to see Simon Sinek speak about his upcoming book. I’d heard Sinek sp
How to be okay with doing the right thing when it doesn’t feel so right
We’ve all faced a tough decision—the one where you know the right thing to do won’t come easy.
Termination
Demotion.
Del
How do I make time for important tasks? Creating space in your schedule to move the needle on top priorities
When I started my first business, I was very busy. Busy serving customers and busy putting out fires. I was in heaven. But with all this busyness
What is the Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Incentive Program (SR&ED) and how can I take advantage of it?
Special thanks to guest author, Bikram Johal
What is SR&ED?
Accelerating business growth with technology
Originally published by my coaching orga
A mile a minute: business lessons learned from my coach during a day at the racetrack
My name’s Mike, and I’m a car guy.
A while back I had the privilege of taking my car for two days of track racing. The experience wa
Book review: Growth IQ: Get Smarter About The Choices That Will Make Or Break Your Business by Tiffani Bova
Here at Incrementa, we share a book a quarter. Each of us chooses one book, we read it, then share our thoughts.
I chose Ti
What in the world is a BHAG and why do I need one? Crafting your big, hairy, audacious goal
Strategic planning is all about looking to the future. During the process, we focus on three time horizons:
Mini book review: Switch: How to change things when change is hard by Chip and Dan Heath
Managing change is one of the most important things we can do as leaders.
Change is a hairy problem. People don’t like change, even if i
Is intuition the little known path to success or is it a telltale sign of weak leadership?
Special thanks to guest author, Pascale Hansen
“Don’t let the nois
Addicted to content? 3 tips to make it even more valuable with automated sharing
I admit it. I’m an addict. I’m utterly addicted to… content.
It’s not Reddit that I’m addicted to either. It’s busi
Stressed out by your coworker? Three tried & true secrets to settling workplace tension
We’ve all been there. Tension comes in many shapes and sizes, and can be so thick, you could cut it with a knife.
A disagreement wit
How to hold productive one on one meetings
One on one meetings (1:1s) are one of the most important tools in your leadership toolbox.
These meetings are the ultimate opportunity to
How to: motivating teams, maintaining results and managing emotional stress in the workplace
Emotional stress. It’s not part of work but it doesn’t disappear when the work day starts. So how should leaders manage teams with varying lif
What causes chronic procrastination and can there be an upside to it?
Special thanks to guest author, Pascale Hansen
“Hard work often pays
Mini book review: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
I recently found myself making an unexpected road trip. Little did I know, the 6+ hours of driving would reward me so richly.
As always, my
Exit this way: sell your business with confidence
You’ve dedicated years of your life to building a successful business. Now, the time’s come to sell.
Most entrepreneurs
Speed dating for service providers event recap
Networking is one of the realities of business.
It’s all about meeting new people and finding opportunities to provide service and be of
Ask Incrementa (almost) anything
Our brand promise is (un)consulting—providing you, and your team, the tools, knowledge and support needed to make your impact.
To do thi
Incrementa’s UNO: white water rafting event recap and a lesson on team alignment
Last week the Incrementa team brought together 20+ of our clients and strategic partners for an impactful lesson in team alignment.
We
How does workplace conflict benefit teams, innovation and the bottom line?
It’s one of those easier said than done ideologies, but taking steps toward embracing healthy, resolute workplace conflict has been proven to cr
How do I solve my cash flow problems? Invoices, both sides of the coin
When it comes to getting paid and paying up, are you a bully, victim or both?
Banish SPOTS forever! How to create a strategy & execution plan that works
Join Mike Knapp as he hosts Banish SPOTS forever! How to create a strategy & exe
Three strategic planning myths we’re busting
A few weeks ago, we told you about the parts of a strategi
Why bother with respect in the workplace? 3 ways to change perspective for greater respect among the team
Respect. Why bother?! I bet that got your attention.
I’ve experie
Can you define the four parts of a strategic plan?
Ask a room full of business owners about their experience around strategic planning and y
Corporate eulogy: what would your business be remembered for?
2020 is looming and for your business, it’s not looking good. Your doors are closing for (insert heart wrenching reason here) and it’s last ca
Introducing Incrementa (un)consulting
When we started Incrementa just over 4 years ago, we knew we were building something different. Over the years, it beca
Book review: They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
With a core value of, “learn, grow & apply”, the Incrementa team gathers for a quarte
Welcome Dave Cavan, Growth Strategist
With 2019 comes a new face to the Incrementa Team, Dave Cavan. We’ve known Dave for years, through is time with Syspro Canada. We knew he’d be
Looking to add to your conference wish list? Read our EntreLeadership Summit 2019 recap & review
If you’re not learning, you’re not leading. This message was repeated by just about every speaker over the course of the
SMarketing: sales + marketing event recap
Incrementa’s latest Breakfast Club event, Smarketing, took place on April 9. The event gathered nearly 30 people in downtown Vancouver for a morn
Incrementa live: unleash the untapped power of brand and culture
September 25, 2018
7:30 am to 9:30 am
World password day
You probably know there’s a national cheeseburger day (Sept 18), talk like pirate day (ARRRR! Sept 19) and national donut day (June 1) – but di
Increase your productivity with focus time
There are several universal rules for people: death, taxes, and that “busyness” will fill every available minute.
Email, Slack, social m
3 steps to reducing overwhelm
This is a guest blog post by Todd Kane, President of
Leadership lessons from unexpected places
Some of the best leadership lessons I have been lucky enough to receive have come from the most unexpected places. My children and my pets.
Look deeper to find your next A players
We all want a team of A Players working for us. You know, the kind that drives the business forward, improves your culture, and are the picture of
Dragons, accountability and corporate culture
“When you first got here we thought you were a dragon! That you were going to destroy us!” This is one of the best comments I’ve e
Achieve business success with focused Fridays
We all have a massive to-do list inside us that never gets done. Important things. Strategies, processes and methodologies, new products, templates
The role of emotions in business
We’ve all heard a version of it. Don’t have emotions in business.
While many consider it a best practice, I would like to offer an alt
The secret ingredient to create trust in the workplace
At work, we depend on one another to be consistent and dependable. Both are very important attributes to building trust in the workplace. But w
Another brick in the wall: my thoughts on integrity
For many years, I was a banker. I worked in many locations, carrying out many roles, in areas of high trust and integrity. Although it shouldn’t,
A disengaged culture: 5 things that will create it
I have not met a leader in business who has purposely created a disengaged culture or workforce, but I have met many who have created one without r
The goals of IT strategy
Traditionally, IT has been seen as a cost center. An area that companies dump money into and receive no measurable results. What if I told you it