A New Way to Think: Your Guide to Superior Management Effectiveness by Roger L. Martin

This book attempts to provide a groundbreaking approach to management, urging leaders to rethink conventional wisdom and adapt models that better serve their organizations. Here’s a closer look at his transformative ideas.

Key Insights

1. Understanding Context
   1. Competition: True competition happens at the front lines, where individual customers evaluate the value they receive.
   1. Stakeholders: Long-term shareholder value comes from prioritizing customer needs.
   1. Customer Loyalty: Familiarity and habit often outweigh perfection. Design systems and solutions that leverage these tendencies.
2. Making Better Choices
   1. Strategy should explore “what would have to be true,” not just what currently is.
   1. Creativity is as important as data in developing innovative and effective strategies.
3. Structuring Work
   1. Culture changes when working relationships evolve—not through mandates.
   1. Knowledge work thrives in project-based organizations rather than rigid job descriptions.
   1. Even corporate functions need distinct, tailored strategies.
4. Executing Key Activities
   1. Planning isn’t a substitute for strategy; focus on goals and risks, not just control.
   1. Execution and strategy are intertwined; doing is strategy in motion.
   1. Employee retention hinges on recognition and personalization, more than monetary rewards.
   1. Successful innovation is as much about execution as the idea itself.

It is important to possess agility in thinking and execution. Management isn’t about rigid frameworks but continuous improvement and adaptation. Leaders should focus on building a culture of feedback and engagement, creating systems that empower employees to refine and enhance strategies in real time.

Twitter Thread

🚀 Thread: 7 Lessons from Roger L. Martin’s A New Way to Think that will transform your management game!

1/ 💡 Competition happens at the front lines. Customers make decisions based on value—focus on their needs, not head office strategies. Familiarity > perfection. Make it easy! #Management #Leadership

2/ 🛠️ Strategy isn’t just about “what’s true.” It’s about asking, “What would have to be true?” Combine imagination with data to create bold choices. #BusinessStrategy

3/ 🏗️ Want to change culture? Don’t mandate it. Shift how people work together day-to-day. Culture follows behavior. #CorporateCulture

4/ 🔄 Strategy = Execution. Planning & doing aren’t distinct. Treat them as one to make real progress. #Execution

5/ 🤝 Talent retention = Feeling valued. Pay matters, but recognition and personal connection matter more. Make employees feel special. #HR #EmployeeEngagement

6/ 💡 Innovation = Execution + Design. A great idea isn’t enough. How you launch it determines its success. #Innovation

7/ 📊 Capital resets when deployed. Don’t over-rely on depreciation; reassess value as it embeds in your operations. Adapt constantly. #Finance 🎯 Martin’s key message: Don’t aim for perfection. Continuously improve, adapt, and empower your team to build smarter systems.