The Importance of Re-Examining a Strategy that is Not Working

We’ve all been there. You have a plan, a strategy you’re confident will lead to success, but somewhere along the way, things aren’t going as expected. Maybe the results aren’t showing up, or progress has slowed to a frustrating crawl. It’s tempting to push forward, thinking that if you just work harder or wait longer, the strategy will eventually pay off. But when a strategy isn't working, doubling down without reflection can waste valuable time, energy, and resources.

Instead, it’s crucial to take a step back and re-examine the plan. Sometimes, even the best strategies need tweaking or a complete overhaul to get back on track. Here’s why regularly reviewing and adjusting your strategy is not just smart — it’s essential for long-term success.

Recognizing the warning signs

The first step to addressing an under-performing strategy is recognizing that it's not working as intended. This can be tricky because failure doesn’t always come with flashing warning lights. The signs can be subtle at first, and it’s easy to rationalize small setbacks as temporary.

But some key indicators should trigger a re-evaluation:

• Lack of measurable progress: If you’re consistently falling short of your benchmarks or goals, something might be off.

• Diminished team morale: When a strategy isn’t working, it often leads to frustration, confusion, or disengagement from those involved.

• Increased effort, same results: If you’re pouring more resources into the strategy but not seeing any improvement, it’s a sign that continuing as is may not be sustainable.

• Changing market conditions: Even if the strategy was effective in the past, shifts in the environment, customer preferences, or technology could render it less viable.

Recognizing these signs early allows you to course-correct before the situation becomes more critical.

Why re-examining is a strength, not a weakness

It’s natural to feel a sense of attachment to a strategy, especially if a lot of time and effort has gone into developing it. But clinging to a plan that isn't producing results can do more harm than good. It’s important to remember that re-examining your approach isn’t admitting defeat — it’s showing strength, adaptability, and a commitment to finding a solution.

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨:

  1. Identify blind spots: Often, when you’re too close to a project or plan, you miss critical factors that could be hindering success. Taking a step back to review the strategy with fresh eyes can reveal weaknesses or overlooked opportunities.
  2. Test assumptions: Many strategies are built on assumptions about the market, your audience, or your resources. Re-examining the plan helps you determine whether those assumptions are still valid. Are your customers behaving as expected? Has the competitive landscape shifted? Are there new tools or trends you should be leveraging?
  3. Learn and grow: Every strategic misstep is an opportunity for growth. By re-evaluating what went wrong, you gain valuable insights that can inform future decisions. This continuous learning process strengthens your ability to create better strategies over time.

How to effectively re-examine a strategy

Re-examining a strategy doesn’t mean scrapping everything and starting from scratch — at least not always. Sometimes small adjustments are all that’s needed to get back on track. Here’s how to go about it:

  1. Assess your goals: Start by revisiting the goals that guided the original strategy. Are they still relevant? Are they realistic? Sometimes, the issue lies not in the strategy itself, but in the goals being either too ambitious or not aligned with current conditions.
  2. Gather data and feedback: Look at the numbers. What do the metrics tell you? Are there areas where you’re seeing progress and others where you’re falling behind? Also, don’t hesitate to seek feedback from team members, customers, or stakeholders. They might offer insights that you’ve overlooked.
  3. Identify what’s working: Not every aspect of the strategy may be failing. Look for the parts that are producing positive results, no matter how small. You can build on these strengths while addressing the areas that are under-performing.
  4. Pinpoint obstacles: Once you’ve identified what’s not working, dig deeper to understand why. Is the issue rooted in poor execution, external factors, or a fundamental flaw in the strategy itself? Getting to the heart of the problem is key to finding the right solution.
  5. Be open to change: After reviewing the data and assessing your plan, be prepared to make changes — even if that means abandoning parts of the strategy you initially believed in. Flexibility is critical in a constantly changing environment.
  6. Test new approaches: Implement changes gradually and test them out. This way, you can track the impact of each adjustment and avoid further large-scale setbacks. Being open to trial and error is part of the process.

The cost of sticking with a failing strategy

Continuing with a strategy that’s clearly not working can lead to several negative outcomes:

• Wasted resources: Time, money, and energy are finite. Sticking with an ineffective strategy depletes these resources without offering returns.

• Lost opportunities: While you’re invested in an under-performing plan, better opportunities may be passing you by. A pivot or re-evaluation could open up new avenues for growth that you hadn’t considered before.

• Frustration and burnout: Repeatedly working on a plan that yields no results can lead to frustration, stress, and burnout, both for you and your team. This, in turn, affects motivation and productivity.

• Damage to reputation: Whether you’re running a business or managing a personal project, sticking with an ineffective strategy for too long can harm your reputation. People notice when things aren’t working, and failing to adapt can make you seem out of touch or rigid.

Embracing the power of pivoting

Success isn’t about sticking to a plan no matter what; it’s about knowing when to adapt. Re-examining a failing strategy allows you to pivot in a new direction — one that aligns better with current realities. In business, innovation, or personal projects, the ability to pivot is often the difference between failure and long-term success.

When you re-examine a strategy, you’re not just saving a sinking ship; you’re creating the potential for something better. Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all you need to unlock a breakthrough that takes you further than the original plan ever could have.

In the end, the most successful people and businesses aren’t the ones who never make mistakes, but those who learn from them, adjust their course, and keep moving forward.