Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ focuses on strategic decision-making, using lessons from successful companies. Key themes include innovative decision-making, recognizing organizational signals, adapting to market demands, and balancing internal and external influences in strategy. It emphasizes real-world examples and frameworks for improving business strategy and execution.

Strategic Decision-Making Organizational Behavior Market Adaptation Leadership Innovation Employee Engagement Company Case Studies Business Frameworks

The hottest Substack posts of Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™

And their main takeaways

A new strategy doesn't always have a happy ending

39 implied HN points • 07 May 24

Starting a new strategy can be hard because it involves making tough emotional choices, not just doing more work.
Leaders may need to make difficult decisions, like letting people go or stopping projects that aren't working, which can be challenging.
Being honest among team members is really important to deal with these emotional decisions effectively.

Don't ignore the neon signs in your organization

59 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24

💼 Business Management Strategy Organizational Change Leadership Business Growth

It's important to notice when something isn't working in your organization. Ignoring these signs can prevent progress and improvement.
Sometimes organizations stick to a plan just because they believe hard work will eventually pay off. This can lead to repeated failures instead of trying new approaches.
Listening to small, offhand comments can reveal bigger problems. These 'neon signs' can show the need for a change in strategy or direction.

3 Ways to Make More Innovative Decisions

59 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24

💼 Business Innovation Decision-making Leadership Management Entrepreneurship

Innovative decisions are about thinking outside the box. They involve finding unique solutions to problems, rather than just solving them traditionally.
Everyone makes many decisions daily, but not all are innovative. It's important to recognize the difference to encourage creativity in decision-making.
Learning about your natural abilities can help improve your decision-making. Understanding what you're good at can lead to more innovative choices.

FedEx's strategy is to be a tech company. Should you do the same?

39 implied HN points • 26 Mar 24

💼 Business Corporate strategy Technology Adoption Market Trends Innovation Financial Performance

FedEx aims to be recognized as a tech company, showing how important a strategic identity can be. This might help them adapt and succeed in a tech-focused market.
Tech companies like NVIDIA and Google lead the market with their innovative products, inspiring others to follow. Everyone wants to grab a piece of the tech pie because it's popular right now.
Even companies that traditionally aren't tech-based, like FedEx, want to affiliate with the tech identity. This shift reflects a larger trend of blending traditional business with technology to stay competitive.

Hertz’s Bad Bet on EVs was a Good Strategy

59 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24

💼 Business Economics Corporate strategy Market Trends Consumer behavior Sustainability

Hertz decided to sell 20,000 electric vehicles and switch back to traditional cars because customers weren't buying EVs as expected. The interest in electric vehicles isn't as strong as they hoped.
Renting an EV can be challenging for customers since charging stations can be hard to find. This can make getting an electric car during a trip pretty stressful.
Even though Hertz is backing away from their EV push, the decision to invest in electric vehicles initially was smart. In 2021, EVs seemed like a great opportunity for growth.

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Fighting the Bandwagon Effect in Your Decisions

39 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24

💼 Business Banking Strategy Decision-making Growth Economics

JPMorgan Chase is opening more physical branches, even though many think they're outdated. This shows that sometimes going against the trend can be a smart move.
The bandwagon effect can lead people to make poor decisions just because others are doing something. It's important to think critically instead of just following the crowd.
To resist the bandwagon effect, consider your own goals, gather diverse opinions, and take time to analyze options before making decisions. This can help you make better choices.

Help others make better decisions

59 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23

💼 Business Leadership Decision-making Management Organizational Behavior Stakeholder engagement

Encourage your team to write down their decision-making process. This helps clarify steps and improves alignment.
Identify key stakeholders in decisions. Knowing who matters most can streamline communication and decision-making.
Look for ways to improve the decision-making process. Discussing it openly can reveal areas of improvement to help the team work better.

Why Coca-Cola is the number one employer of choice in America

59 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23

💼 Business Employment Corporate culture Talent Management Recruitment Human Resources

Coca-Cola is highly ranked as an employer because it offers transparency about job opportunities. Employees can easily find and apply for jobs worldwide through an online portal.
The company encourages all employees to take short skill-building assignments across different departments. This helps keep employees engaged and learning.
Coca-Cola's focus on hiring practices, promotion opportunities, and a supportive culture contributes to employee retention, making it a desirable place to work.

Make Your Future a Little Less Uncertain

39 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24

💼 Business Strategy Management Leadership Organizational Change Decision-making

Success can come with unexpected challenges, which can be hard to talk about. It's important to recognize and address these challenges as they arise.
Changes in society, like those seen during the pandemic, can really impact how organizations connect with their clients. Adapting communication methods is crucial for effective outreach.
Issues like inflation and increased stress in people's lives can lead to more divorces and conflicts. Organizations need to be ready to support their clients through these tough times.

The strategy behind the fastest growing sport in America

19 implied HN points • 09 Apr 24

🎾 Sports Community Trends Growth Strategy

Pickleball is popular because it's easy to learn, making it fun for beginners. Players can quickly develop their skills and enjoy the game without a long learning curve.
The sport is affordable, with cheaper equipment compared to tennis. This lower cost makes it easier for more people to try and stick with the game.
Community plays a big role in pickleball's growth. The social aspect encourages players to connect with others, which keeps them coming back for more.

The Questions Guiding IKEA's Future

39 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24

💼 Business Retail Marketing Innovation Economics Urban planning

IKEA is looking at new ways to adapt by experimenting with smaller stores in downtown areas. This change could help them reach more customers who live in cities.
The success of IKEA's regular big stores is leading to new ideas that might involve more innovative shopping experiences. They are trying to think outside the box to keep their business thriving.
Nordstrom's closure in Canada shows that even popular locations can face challenges. It highlights the need for companies like IKEA to be flexible and responsive to market demands.

"I don't want to do our cheat way of getting 12 objectives by bundling everything under three things"

4 HN points • 23 Jul 24

💼 Business Strategy Management Leadership Team Dynamics Productivity

It's really hard to focus on just three priorities because teams often want to tackle too many things at once. Picking fewer goals helps you actually get more done.
Organizations keep adding new projects and ideas without removing old ones, which creates overload. It's important to occasionally remove tasks or projects to avoid burnout.
Having too many ideas can slow down progress, so it’s essential to have a way to filter them. Voting or aligning them with key priorities helps decide which ideas to pursue.

What makes an organization great at strategy?

19 implied HN points • 02 Apr 24

🎾 Sports Basketball Strategy Teams Players Podcasts

Great organizations learn from the best in sports, like the NBA. They adapt and apply successful strategies to stay competitive.
Focusing on teamwork and individual talent is key for success. Just like in basketball, each player's strengths contribute to the overall performance.
Instead of getting caught up in drama, it's important to concentrate on what makes teams and players excel. This mindset can also apply to business.

What the demise of Sears teaches us about strategy

59 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23

💼 Business Strategy Retail Identity Marketing History

Knowing who you are as a business is really important. Sears changed its identity multiple times, which helped it grow in the beginning, but not knowing who they were later on hurt them.
Sears' shift from a catalog seller to a retail store showed that businesses should adapt to changes in the world. They had to think ahead about where their stores should be to meet customer needs as habits shifted.
When businesses don't have a clear identity, they can make confusing decisions that lead to failure. A strong identity helps guide choices and keeps companies focused on what they do best.

Are you noticing the shifting ground underneath your feet? [Growth Needle™]

59 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23

💼 Business Media Fashion Food Technology Trends

The release of Netflix's _House of Cards_ changed the game for TV, leading to the decline of cable TV. It marked a shift towards streaming content that many people now prefer.
Expiration dates on food can often be misleading, which is an issue that affects how consumers make choices about what to eat.
Italian fashion brands are struggling to keep pace with the fast-changing world they created, showing that even established industries must adapt to new trends.

How Normative Forces Shaped Ford's Decisions

39 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23

💼 Business Corporate strategy Consumer behavior Investment decisions

External forces, like customer demands and government pressure, strongly impact business decisions. Companies need to pay attention to these forces but shouldn't let them dictate every choice.
Ford's push into electric vehicles has faced challenges, including a drop in consumer demand and high costs. This has led to significant financial losses for the company.
Too much reliance on external influences can lead to poor decisions. It's important for businesses to balance external pressures with their own strategic goals.

How to speed up your group decisions

19 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24

💼 Business Management Decision-making Organizational Behavior Remote work Productivity

Group decisions can take a long time, especially with remote work. It's important to find ways to make these decisions quicker.
Using decision maps can help clarify the decision-making process. They can guide groups through their choices more efficiently.
Understanding how long decisions take in your organization can highlight where improvements are needed. This awareness can help teams speed things up.

Preventive decisions are underrated

39 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23

💼 Business Leadership Strategy Management Organizations Technology

Preventive decisions are often overlooked but can save a lot of trouble later. It's better to act early to avoid bigger problems in the future.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with your team or board is essential for effective leadership. Good communication can prevent misunderstandings and conflicts.
Learning from the experiences of companies like OpenAI can provide valuable insights into making better strategic decisions. Watching their ups and downs can teach important lessons for everyone in business.

How empty spaces in your calendar lead to better decisions

39 implied HN points • 21 Nov 23

💼 Business Leadership Decision-making Emotional Intelligence Productivity Organizational Behavior

Building emotional competence helps leaders make better decisions. It's important for leaders to understand their emotions and those of others.
Having empty spaces in your schedule allows for better brainstorming and connecting ideas. It gives your brain time to think and create.
The idea of 'blocks of time' can limit decision-making in companies. Companies should be more flexible instead of strictly scheduling everything.

How to find your own best practices

19 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24

💼 Business Management Strategy Innovation Best Practices Organizational development

Look for best practices inside your own organization first. You've already tested these ideas, so you know they can work for you.
Using what you already have saves you the trouble of making big changes or learning new systems.
Finding internal best practices helps you build on your own successes instead of starting from scratch with outside ideas.

Engaging Your Staff to Drive Success

19 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24

💼 Business Strategy Implementation Management Leadership

Most strategies fail during implementation because the planning phase is fun, but putting plans into action is hard. Engaging staff is vital to convert plans into reality.
Engaging staff before creating a strategy helps gather useful feedback and ideas. This can be done through surveys, townhalls, or one-on-one conversations.
After a strategy is made, leaders should support staff by explaining how it benefits them personally and providing the tools they need. Keeping changes simple helps everyone adapt better.

A Radical Approach to Handle Your Mistakes

19 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24

💼 Business Management Innovation Safety Aerospace Organizational Behavior

Volunteering mistakes can lead to safety improvements. In aviation, encouraging staff to report errors has made flying much safer over the years.
Boeing's decline from an innovator to a company facing serious issues shows the consequences of neglecting quality and safety.
The airline industry adopted new practices that prioritized transparency, leading to a safer environment for both passengers and employees.

The most popular Growth Needle posts of 2023

19 implied HN points • 26 Dec 23

💼 Business Strategy Marketing Innovation Economics Leadership

Sears was really good at coming up with new ideas, but they missed their chance to keep changing with the times. They adapted once with mail orders and again with retail stores, but failed to innovate again.
It's important to recognize your business identity and continuously adapt to stay relevant in the market. Sometimes, companies have everything they need to succeed but don't make the right moves.
Learning from the past, like the story of Sears, can help guide future strategies. Businesses should not just rest on their accomplishments but keep pushing forward.

How to feel more certain in your strategic decisions

19 implied HN points • 14 Nov 23

💼 Business Strategy Decision-making Leadership Management Risk Assessment

Look at past examples to help understand new situations. Historical contexts can give insights that make tough decisions easier.
Adjust the reward system to make the risks of wrong decisions feel less daunting. This allows for more exploration without the fear of huge penalties.
Use anonymous voting to find out what people really think. This can reveal hidden concerns that might not come up in open discussions.

How to level your strategic thinking this week

19 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23

💼 Business Strategy Management Leadership Growth Frameworks

The Straight Line Framework helps you keep focus when working toward big goals, showing that paths can be curvy but still lead to your destination.
The Undercurrent Framework is useful when you're unsure about the future, helping you to explore underlying emotions and trends.
The Identity Shift Framework encourages you to change your perspective or approach, allowing you to find new solutions to problems.

Why companies (like Nike or Starbucks) make good or bad decisions

19 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23

💼 Business Strategy Management Decision-making Corporate culture Organizational Behavior

Words like strategy and culture are losing their meaning in companies, making it hard to make clear decisions.
Starbucks' mission statement is seen as too vague and fluffy, which can lead to confusion about their goals.
Nike focuses on marathon world records because it emphasizes performance and achievement, aligning with their brand values.

Are you too tired to make the right decisions? [Growth Needle™]

19 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23

💼 Business Decision-making Mental health Problem Solving Productivity Personal Development

Your mental state is really important when making decisions. If you're stressed or tired, it's harder to think clearly and make good choices.
Finding 'Domino Decisions' can help you focus on what actions will make the biggest impact. It's about identifying the small steps that lead to bigger changes.
To solve problems effectively, it's essential to find the root causes. Just treating symptoms won't fix issues in the long run.

Answer three questions to make remote work productive for your company

19 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23

💼 Business Management Remote work Productivity Team Dynamics Corporate culture

It's important for companies to measure performance at individual, team, and organizational levels. This helps make sure everyone is contributing to their goals.
Culture matters a lot in remote work. A strong culture can keep workers connected and motivated, even when they are not in the same physical space.
Employee satisfaction is key. Happy employees are usually more productive, so companies should focus on what makes their workers feel valued and fulfilled.

The fallacy of mission, vision and values

19 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23

💼 Business Corporate strategy Organizational Behavior Leadership Strategic Planning Decision-making

Mission statements should provide clear direction but often don't help in day-to-day decisions. It's important to make them practical for true guidance.
Vision is seen as a longer-term aspiration that provides motivation. But it needs to be clear so everyone knows what they are working towards.
Values should guide behavior and decision-making within an organization. Instead of being vague, they should be specific and actionable to be effective.

Are you the limiting factor in your strategy?

0 implied HN points • 21 May 24

💼 Business Management Strategy Leadership Coaching Organizational Change

Assess if your skills are holding your organization back. It’s good to reflect on whether you are the reason for slow growth.
New strategies need new skills. Leaders must find ways to learn or adapt, so their team can succeed.
Act quickly if you see signs of stagnation. Options like coaching or role changes can help the organization move forward.

This is the strategy for America's best airline

0 implied HN points • 23 Apr 24

💼 Business Customer Service Airlines

Delta Airlines focuses on providing excellent customer service, which helps them stand out in a tough industry. They prioritize keeping flights on time and minimizing cancellations.
The airline consistently ranks at the top of customer satisfaction surveys due to their efforts in handling baggage and reducing delays, making travel smoother for passengers.
Delta's strategy combines premium services with great customer care, showing that a focus on quality can lead to success and loyalty from customers.

How to find profitable underserved markets

0 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24

💼 Business Marketing Entrepreneurship Strategy Growth Market research

Look for markets that are growing quickly; they're often full of opportunities. If a group of consumers is wanting something new or different, that's a sign there's potential.
Identify unexpected characteristics about potential customers; this can reveal unique needs that aren't being met. Sometimes, people want what they didn't even know they wanted!
Check for high dissatisfaction rates in existing services; if people are unhappy, it’s a chance for you to offer something better. When customers are frustrated, they are often more willing to try out new options.

What happens if you succeed at the wrong thing? [Growth Needle™]

0 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23

💼 Business Strategy Decision-making Implementation Growth Accountability

Succeeding at something that doesn't matter can feel empty. It's important to focus on what really drives growth and progress.
Sometimes, the wrong decisions can benefit the wrong people. Relying on unclear decision-making can lead to unexpected consequences.
Just because a successful method worked once, doesn't mean it will always work. The landscape changes and adaptability is key to ongoing success.

The one attribute that makes a decision strategic

0 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23

💼 Business Strategy Decision-making Organizations Urban planning Constraints

Strategic decisions set boundaries that influence future choices. Once you make a decision, it limits what you can do next.
Cities like Miami show how infrastructure can force people into particular behaviors, such as driving instead of walking. This lack of options highlights how decisions create constraints.
Understanding the constraints created by choices can help you navigate decision-making better. It’s important to consider how one decision impacts future opportunities.

Uncovering more strategic insights

0 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23

💼 Business Strategy Insights Retail Leadership Planning

Good strategic insights can really change the way an organization plans for the future. Even a few strong ideas can shift everything.
It's important to know where and how to find these insights. Look for inspiration in various places and from different people.
Collecting insights can be a process. Think about how to gather and analyze information that can inform your strategy effectively.

What are your decision-making rules?

0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24

💼 Business Leadership Strategy Entrepreneurship Management Decision-making

Focusing on customers is key for making good decisions. When you think about what the customers want, it helps guide your choices.
Long-term goals should come before short-term profits. Investing for the future can create more success than chasing quick wins.
Measuring the impact of your choices is important. Knowing what works and what doesn’t helps you improve your decision-making.

Interested in Making Dramatically Better Strategic Decisions?

0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23

💼 Business Strategy Leadership Growth Decision-making Management

Making better strategic decisions can help leaders and executives drive growth in their organizations.
Each week, you can receive three new ideas from different industries to help approach tough decisions with more confidence.
Subscribing gets you valuable insights, audio content, and a supportive community for sharing ideas and learning.

Here's my new podcast: How Sears Used Catalogs to Reshape America

0 implied HN points • 30 Apr 24

🎙 Podcasts History Business Culture Education Media

A new podcast called Stratagems has been launched, focusing on strategies used by organizations. The first episode is about how Sears used catalogs to shape America.
The series will explore different companies and their rapid growth tactics across eight episodes. It aims to dive into specific historical contexts and their impacts.
The first episode lasts over two hours and highlights the early history of Sears before it became a well-known retail chain. It emphasizes the significance of mail-order catalogs in Sears' success.

How to find time to move your strategy forward

0 implied HN points • 14 May 24

💼 Business Leadership Strategy Productivity Organization Work Environment

Strategic thinking is often hard to achieve because many workplaces are busy with constant meetings and emails. This chaotic environment makes it tough for leaders to focus on big-picture ideas.
Switching between tasks is fine for small work, but it hurts strategic thinking. Leaders should find ways to limit distractions when tackling important strategies.
To regain control over their time, leaders can try setting office hours, blocking specific times for appointments, reducing their priorities, and changing where they do their strategic work.

I have big news to share about the Growth Needle™

0 implied HN points • 27 May 24

💼 Business Strategy Leadership Entrepreneurship Community Subscriptions

The Growth Needle is introducing paid subscriptions for readers, offering monthly and annual options. Everyone can still access content for free, and the support is appreciated.
The community aims to help strategists learn how to create effective strategies for their organizations. Members include business leaders and strategists who want to improve their skills.
New features will include a Friday thread, podcast episodes, and more insights to enhance the learning experience. This means more content and opportunities to apply what you learn.