Atmospheric Thinking
The Power of Operational Harmony and Collaborative Leadership through
Atmospheric Thinking
At A Glance
United Alliance’s (UA) client was riding a wave of strong sales for its products and had ambitious long-term objectives. However, they lacked a plan to achieve their goals. UA applied its unique approach to helping the client connect to a shared purpose, prompting the client's imagination to think big enough to build a defined bridge to their future. The resulting newfound clarity energized the team with a clear focus and a roadmap for sustained success.
The Situation:
With a significant boost in sales over the previous two years, UA's client aimed to maintain their growth trajectory by setting ambitious revenue targets. But in the face of significant cost headwinds, the leadership team was also tasked with delivering substantial gross margin improvements to support the profitability of their growth. They needed a well-defined plan to make it happen.
The Ask
UA was asked to develop an executable strategy so the client could gain clarity on their path ahead. The client also recognized that they needed operational expertise in order to deliver to the expectations of the strategy, so they also enlisted UA to work side by side with their leaders on the planning and execution in the strategy's first year.
The Solution:
An organization's ability to develop effective strategies hinges on a clear vision. Conversely, a lack of vision can derail the strategic process,
leading to static and confusion in goal achievement. UA's innovative approach effectively addresses this issue, enabling the client to devise
and execute a well-defined plan that yields exponential results. The impact of UA's innovation is evident in:
-
Atmospheric Thinking: This method sparks creativity and imagination and helps the team focus on their purpose.
-
Removing Barriers: By addressing perceived obstacles to achieving their vision, the team could explore their true potential and identify
new, more significant, and tangible possibilities to execute their mission. -
Crafting a Vision: The client created an inspiring vision, a motivating mission, clear guiding principles, and anchoring cultural attributes.
In documented form, they could be shared and revisited, enabling the organization's deep connection to its shared purpose.
Real Impact
Increasing Value
The client reimagined their approach, thought creatively, and adopted a broader perspective. This shift in mindset enabled a connection from individual contributions to significant company accomplishments. Leadership was able to effectively communicate a shared vision and mission that resonated with the broader team, which provided clear guidance for the team's actions. The renewed clarity of purpose energized the team and led to a well-defined path toward sustained success. The team executed initiatives that generated $172 million in cumulative value over five years. Additionally, this approach resulted in faster, more effective decision-making and improved teamwork.