When Strategy Stalls: 4 Moves to Regain Momentum
June 2, 2025
- Pause to Stabilize: Cut costs and renegotiate to create breathing room.
- Pivot, Don’t Panic: Explore new markets or customer segments while staying agile.
- Learn Fast or Fall Behind: Turn setbacks into insights through rapid experimentation.
- Guard the Downside: Hedge risks and protect what matters most.
600 words ~ 3 min. read
Even seasoned leaders know the sting of a strategy that’s no longer working. But the real measure of leadership isn’t avoiding failure—it’s how decisively and creatively you pivot when the path ahead shifts.
When strategic plans falter—whether due to market turbulence, internal missteps, or external shocks—leaders must act not with panic, but with precision. Drawing from Harvard Business Review’s “How to Rescue a Failing Strategy,” here are four pivotal moves to help regain strategic traction.
1. Pause to Stabilize
If your strategy is wobbling, the first priority is to buy time without triggering chaos. Consider:
- Reducing burn rate by cutting non-essential expenses
- Freezing expansion plans that strain resources
- Renegotiating contracts or vendor terms to ease cash flow
Retailers, for instance, might pause new store openings to refocus on e-commerce logistics. Nonprofits may temporarily halt new program rollouts to concentrate on core impact areas.
This strategic pause buys clarity—and the space to think critically.
2. Pivot, Don’t Panic
Locking into one approach can be dangerous when conditions change. Instead, design options:
- Enter adjacent customer segments
- Test low-risk partnerships or distribution channels
- Pilot tweaks to product offerings or delivery models
For manufacturers, this might mean adapting existing equipment to serve a neighboring industry. Professional services firms could pivot to virtual delivery or a subscription-based model.
Related reading: McKinsey on adaptive strategies
3. Learn Fast or Fall Behind
Use turbulence as a catalyst to turn your organization into a fast learner. That means:
- Running controlled experiments on pricing, offers, or ops
- Creating real-time feedback loops from customers and staff
- Making strategic reviews more iterative, less static
Construction firms might beta-test prefab components for speed and cost. Tech startups could A/B test UX changes weekly.
Also worth reading: Bain on learning organizations
4. Guard the Downside
Pivots come with risk. Your job? Minimize exposure while staying bold.
- Cap investments in unproven ideas
- Increase controls around key financial or operational processes
- Develop contingency plans for likely risk scenarios
Think of this as smart aggression—pushing forward without leaving your core vulnerable.
Bottom Line
Every organization will face moments when strategy falters. The difference lies in the response. Leaders who act with focus—stabilizing, experimenting, and protecting—don’t just recover; they reposition for smarter, stronger growth.
---
The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.
Surviving Disaster: A Small Business Resource Guide
You've polished your website, perfected your elevator pitch, and your product or service genuinely solves real problems. Yet somehow, you keep attracting the wrong customers—the ones who haggle over every penny, make unreasonable demands, or disappear after one purchase. Meanwhile, your dream clients seem to float past, elusive, visiting but not buying. Why? As in any human relationship, you need to be more magnetic. If your answer is, “I’m trying,” then perhaps you’re creating the wrong kind of magnetic field around your brand. Opposites Don't Always Attract in Business Did you ever play with magnets? If you did, then you know magnets have two poles that create distinct fields of attraction and repulsion. Your business has something similar. Every decision you make, from your pricing strategy to your communication style, either attracts or repels specific types of customers. Most beginning businesspeople think success is about appealing to as many people as possible. Their marketing consists of claims like, “This is a great gift for everyone,” “This item fits everyone’s lifestyle.” But trying to appeal to everyone creates neutral magnetism that attracts no one strongly. Most customers don’t want to be everyone. They want to be spoken to in ways that catch their attention, such as “Creative architects love our tool,” or “We help people who hate doing yardwork get their weekend back.” Those types of callouts leave a potential customer thinking, “That’s me,” which inadvertently directs them to think, “That (product/service) is for me.” Speaking in Your Customer's Natural Wavelength Additionally, your ideal customers operate on distinct "business frequencies," that’s to say, patterns of decision-making, communication preferences, and value systems that are surprisingly predictable within industries and personality types. Most businesses broadcast on a "Generic FM"—bland, safe messaging that technically reaches everyone but resonates with no one. Your competition is probably doing the same thing, which is why customers can't tell you apart. Tuning Into the Right Station Let's say you run a marketing agency. Instead of saying "We help businesses grow," try identifying your ideal client's specific “frequency”: ● The Overwhelmed Entrepreneur: "For entrepreneurs who lie awake at 2 AM wondering why their great product isn't selling itself" ● The Scaling Company: "When your scrappy startup marketing tactics hit a wall at $2M revenue" ● The Corporate Escapee: "Marketing services for executives who fled corporate life and swore they'd never work with agencies that speak in buzzwords again" Each message repels two groups while magnetizing one and that's exactly what you want. Availability Affects Attraction Many small businesses are getting it backwards. They think being constantly available and accommodating makes them more attractive. In reality, it often signals low value and desperation, which is the business equivalent of appearing too eager on a first date. This doesn't mean you should be difficult to buy from. No one’s going to purchase from someone playing “hard to get.” It means understanding what behavioral economists call "perceived scarcity signals." These are subtle indicators that communicate value through selective availability. Examples of Strategic Scarcity ● A landscape architect who only takes on three projects per quarter (instead of cramming in as many as possible). You’ll often see this in marketing as “I just had a spot open up. Grab it now because I only have availability like this once a quarter.” ● A consultant who requires a discovery call before proposing. “Let’s jump on a call and see if we’re a good fit for one another.” ● A restaurant that closes one day per week "to maintain quality" (instead of staying open every day to maximize revenue). Chick-fil-a, enough said. These businesses repel price-sensitive, high-maintenance customers while attracting clients who associate selectivity with expertise. The Compound Interest of Customer Magnetism The most overlooked aspect of customer attraction is that it compounds over time if you maintain consistency and think about how every interaction either strengthens or weakens your magnetism. When you bend your standards, lower your prices, or compromise your values to accommodate a marginal customer (not your ideal customer), you don't just make that one transaction less profitable. You make it harder to attract ideal customers in the future. Conversely, every time you politely decline a poor-fit customer or maintain your standards despite pressure, you strengthen your brand. Word spreads through your ideal customer network that you're selective, professional, and worth the premium. The other part no one tells you about catering to someone other than your ideal audience is that it endangers your word-of-mouth marketing. Word-of-mouth or referrals are something every business wants because it’s one of the most powerful types of marketing. When you market to everyone, including those who are not a good fit for you, you attract the wrong kind of customers and what they say about you will either be negative or, if it’s positive, it will attract more people who are not an ideal fit. After all, most people hang out with people who are similar to them so if they’re referring people to you it will be more people who are not your target market. The Practical Magnetism Audit Want to identify if your business has weak magnetism? Ask yourself these questions: Attraction Audit: ● Do your last five new customers have similar characteristics, challenges, and values? ● Would your best customers enthusiastically recommend you to their friends? ● Do people often say "I never would have thought of that" when you explain your approach? Repulsion Audit: ● Can you clearly articulate who your service is NOT for? ● Do you regularly turn away inquiries that aren't a good fit? ● Would your worst customers give similar complaints about what they didn't like? If you answered no to most of these questions, you likely have neutral polarity—trying to be everything to everyone and ending up magnetic to no one. Rewiring Your Business Magnetic Field Start by identifying your strongest existing customer relationships. What specific problems do you solve for them that no one else addresses quite the same way? What do they value about working with you that they can't get elsewhere? That's your magnetic north. Then, gradually align everything—your messaging, pricing, processes, and even your office environment—to strengthen that specific part of your brand. Some customers will drift away. Let them. They're making room for the clients who will become your biggest advocates and most profitable relationships. Remember, in a world of infinite choice and constant noise, being remarkably good for some people is infinitely more valuable than being adequate for everyone. Your perfect customers are out there, searching for exactly what you offer. The businesses thriving today aren't necessarily the ones with the best products or the biggest marketing budgets. They're the ones that have figured out how to create a strong, focused magnetic field and their ideal customers can't help but be drawn in. That's not just good marketing. That's magnetic business design. ------------ Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith
Unless you've been living under a rock it's difficult to avoid all the posts about school starting back up again and summer being over. Why do those events matter? It means we're quickly approaching Q4 and that is the perfect time to review what has gone well for you this year and what has been a mounting challenge. While you may be laser-focused on holiday sales, year-end reports, and hitting those final quarterly goals, the savviest leaders know Q4 is also the time to zoom out. The decisions you make now don’t just impact your December and year end. They shape your success well into 2026. Business cycles move quickly. The economy, workforce, and technology will continue to shift in ways that reward businesses that plan ahead. Ready, Set, Go! Here’s how to get future-ready while everyone else is just trying to cross the 2025 finish line. Set Your Goals If you haven’t already done so, start by revisiting or creating a three-year strategy for your business. Businesses that thrive don’t just chase sales. They pursue a bigger vision. Use Q4 to review your long-term goals. Where do you want your company to be in 2026? Expanding into new markets? Adding product lines? Increasing automation? Achieving greater efficiency and cost savings? Write it down, get buy-in from the leadership team, and align next year’s goals with that north star. Break your vision into yearly milestones so it feels achievable, not overwhelming. When Strategy Stalls: 4 Moves to Regain Momentum ------------------- Invest in Movement Next, consider technology investments. AI, automation, and digital tools are having huge impacts on efficiency and cost-savings. If you wait until 2026 to get around to auditioning these “game changers,” you’ll be behind. Look at how technology can support your growth, through things like customer relationship management, e-commerce, or workflow automation. Starting small with a chatbot, productivity app, or scheduling tool today could free up enough resources to tackle bigger tech upgrades in 2026. 5 Genius Ways AI Can Stretch Your Existing Content AI for Small Businesses: Practical Steps to boost utility How Small Businesses Can Lead Innovation ---------------- Invest in People Your workforce also deserves attention. The talent pipeline is shifting, with Gen Z stepping into more roles and hybrid work remaining a hot topic. Businesses that build flexibility, invest in upskilling, and cultivate a strong culture now will have a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining the right people. Additionally, add professional development to your 2026 budget. It’s one of the most powerful investments for long-term growth and employee satisfaction. If you can't afford professional development for your team, consider affordable solutions like what the chamber of commerce offers. Chamber member benefits cover all employees, which means they can attend the chamber events of their choosing and may be able to meet professional development goals through chamber trainings, webinars, and events. By bringing these opportunities to your employees’ attention you look like the rock star who's assisting them in their career pathing and knowledge attainment. The chamber may also have a mentor program that your employees can participate in. This can be a huge benefit for younger employees looking for guidance. Perks & Benefits Idea List – Available to Chamber Members The New Employee Benefit Everyone Is Talking About Recognition is Free—But It Might Be the Most Valuable Investment You Make The 2025-2026 Leadership Class is now accepting applications. Access here and return to: Office@LLChamber.com by September 15. --------- Check the Finances Financial resilience is another key to success. Interest rates, inflation, and shifting consumer habits make financial agility essential. Look at your cash flow, debt, and pricing strategies. What can you adjust now to weather uncertainty in the next two years? Diversifying revenue streams ensures your 2026 success isn’t dependent on one source of income. Money Management Tips for People Who Hate Money Management Get Ready! For Small Business Week Small Business Resource Round-up Mid Year reset ------------- Build Relationships Anticipating market shifts can also give you a competitive edge. Consumer values are evolving, especially around sustainability, health, and community. Businesses that align with these trends will have a competitive advantage. Pay attention to what your customers are asking for now. It’s often a preview of what will be standard in 2026. 5 Customer-Focused Strategies to Build Loyalty and Drive Growth Hospitality is the Hidden Edge: Why Emotional Connection Drives Customer Loyalty How to Build Loyalty Without Spending a Dime on Ads ------------------- Check-in with the Chamber Finally, strengthen your community and partnerships. No business succeeds in a vacuum. Your local chamber of commerce offers resources, advocacy, and connections that can give you a leg up in uncertain times. Don’t just look to network—collaborate. Joint promotions, shared talent pipelines, or advocacy efforts can open doors you couldn’t access alone. Q4 is the perfect time to step back, not just step up. By thinking beyond the immediate hustle and honing your business strategy, you’ll finish this year strong and ensure sustainable, future-ready growth in 2026 and beyond. 10 Ways to Get the Most from Your Chamber Membership How to Build Business Connections (Even If You Hate Networking) Local Business Partnerships Strengthen Communities, Drive Growth Your Chamber Listing Matters More Than Ever! -------------------- Looking for information on making your landing page better? Need technical assistance? Visit here! Looking for sponsorship/event hosting information? Complete this form to let us know what you’re interested in. ---------------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith
