One month after the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, the post-election reactions of the two major parties offered a wealth of Strategic Intelligence worth examining. Their distinct cultural and strategic approaches provided real-time assessments, feedback, and impacts, mirroring the dynamics often seen in the business environment. While avoiding political debate, the strategic insights derived from these contrasting teams were too valuable to overlook.
In this five-part series, we delve into four critical areas that directly influence strategy design and implementation: Human Behavior, Strategic Planning, Leadership & Competencies, and Projections & Forecasting.
The takeaway is clear: Missteps, ignorance, inaction, and complacency come with severe consequences. By understanding these insights, leaders can empower themselves to avoid these common pitfalls and drive improved performance.
Let’s dive in.
Click on the article to read.
2024 U.S Election 1 Month In Analysis - Strategic Insights & Forecast
Even 1 month in, before the President-Elected is inaugurated, the U.S. 2024 Presidential election remains a fascinating case study, showcasing the immediate and measurable impacts of two distinctly different yet widely adopted strategies, each with compelling arguments about their effectiveness – strategies often mirroring the occurring in the corporate world.
These strategies often parallel those seen in corporate settings, providing valuable lessons for business leaders navigating complex market dynamics. In this series of concise articles, we won’t rehash the debates. Instead, we’ll examine the strategies employed during the first-month post-election, distill key business insights, and outline forecasts for the next 12 months.
Before you jump in, If you missed the 2024 U.S. Election Strategic Insights: Lessons for Business Leaders article, click here to read it.
Key Insights for Business Leaders
- Lessons from the 2024 U.S. Election: Election strategies reveal planning mistakes businesses can avoid.
- Strategic Planning Tip: Treat plans as flexible, not fixed—monitor and adjust regularly.
- Global Leadership Examples include:
- El Salvador: Focused on safety and investment—economic growth potential.
- Trinidad and Tobago: Economic decline due to poor reforms and mismanagement.
- Canada: Rising poverty and SMB struggles tied to slow reforms and high costs.
Business Takeaways:
- Adapt strategies quickly to meet stakeholder needs.
- Prioritize competency and long-term stability over short-term gains.
- SMBs risk productivity loss without alignment and operational harmony.
Read the Full article in the next tab.
Strategic Insight and Forecast
Misstep
A common management fallacy is believing that once the annual plan is finalized, it’s set in stone—a done deal. Not quite. Planning is a dynamic process that may be executed annually but must be actively managed throughout the fiscal year. This involves intentional monitoring and control activities to ensure that strategies remain aligned with the business’s vision while addressing the inevitable ebbs and flows of the environment.
In November, we published 2024 U.S. Election Strategic Insights: Lessons for Business Leaders—an analysis of the strategies leveraged by both major parties leading up to the presidential elections. This article extracted key insights that business leaders can use in strategic planning to avoid making the mistakes so publicly being debated today.
History
History is a very generous teacher —offering countless examples which, if applied wisely, would have led to different outcomes for the Harris campaign. For instance, the Harris campaign’s trajectory could have shifted had they leveraged these historical lessons more effectively.
Leadership, Vision, and the Role of Competency in National Prosperity
History demonstrates that nations thrive when their leaders, supported by a capable team, execute a clear vision aligned with the needs and expectations of their key stakeholders—their citizens. A more recent developing example is El Salvador’s leadership under its sitting President, who, despite facing considerable criticism, chose to listen to the needs of the population. Their commitment to improving safety and attracting foreign investment has positioned El Salvador as a promising example of economic turnaround. If they maintain this strategic course, they stand on the path; El Salvador can become relatively economically prosperous.
Conversely, Trinidad and Tobago offers a stark contrast. Once a prosperous Caribbean tropical paradise, the island now struggles with crime and economic hardship. Foreign investment is hindered as businesses face significant challenges in accessing foreign currency necessary for operations and foreign trade.
Sadly, Canada faces similar challenges. With its open-border policies, slow economic reforms, and misaligned priorities, many Canadians are now facing unheard-of economic challenges, with a growing segment of the population falling below the poverty line. This is exacerbated by policies focused on political expediency rather than long-term stability—policies that burden households and disproportionately impact small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by increasing labour and operational costs.
Disproportionately impact small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by increasing labour and operational costs.
Strategic Implications for Business Leaders
These observations underline a critical lesson for business leaders: sustainable strategies are born from adaptability, understanding the needs of your key stakeholders, and prioritizing competency over personal or short-term political goals. Global economic shifts and national strategies amply demonstrate that companies operating without strategic alignment and flexibility risk falling behind their competitors and market opportunities. More Practically, SMBs operating without harmony and alignment risk degrading productivity and losing customers.
Understanding leadership decisions, both at the national and organizational levels, can shape the trajectory of businesses in unforeseen ways. History offers us both cautionary tales and opportunities—if business leaders choose to analyze, learn, and act with clarity.
Next article – “How Human Behaviour in Politics Mirrors Human Behaviour in Business?”
At NM Corporate Strategy Inc., we aim to equip determined leaders with tools to analyze and get to the root cause of their most dire challenges, solving the problems cost-effectively and practically the first time, saving cost and reducing disruption.
With discipline and a clear strategic path, you’ll turn challenges into opportunities and foster growth in an ever-evolving landscape.
How Human Behaviour in Politics Mirrors Human Behaviour in Business
Culture is the cornerstone of organizational success. Ineffective leadership, as demonstrated by Enron, Boeing, and political parties, can quickly erode trust and destroy years of progress. In business, poor cultural practices damage reputation and trust, which can take years, if at all possible, to rebuild.
Leaders set the tone for their organizations through their actions and behaviours. A disconnect between their words and actions diminishes trust and effectiveness. Post-election reactions from both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump supporters illustrate the impact of emotional responses on strategic decisions and the need for clear communication and adaptability in leadership.
Key Business Insights for Leaders:
- Culture’s Impact on Success:
- Culture is the foundation of every organization’s success or failure.
- Ineffective leadership can undo years of progress, as seen with Enron, Boeing, and Democratic Party leaders.
- Bad News Spreads:
- Poor cultural practices harm reputation and trust—affecting both customers and business outcomes.
- Negative feedback spreads faster than positive reviews, which can take years to repair.
- Leaders Set the Tone:
- Leaders define what is acceptable and shape organizational culture through actions.
- A lack of consistency between words and actions leads to a loss of trust.
- Leadership in Action:
- Clear, consistent actions grounded in evidence build stronger teams and customer satisfaction.
- Flip-flopping decisions and unclear messaging erode trust and effectiveness.
Business Takeaways:
- Emotional Intelligence: Manage emotional responses within teams and stakeholders to maintain progress.
- Adaptability: Adjust positions based on new information, avoiding erratic shifts.
- Clear Communication: Set realistic goals and timelines to ensure alignment and maintain momentum.
- Strategic Alignment: Use strategic objectives to guide actions, build trust, and ensure long-term success.
Read the Full article in the next tab.
Human Behaviour:
Culture
Culture is the foundation of every organization’s success or failure. A single ineffective leader can quickly undo years of progress. Consider how Enron’s unethical practices wiped out over $60 billion in market value or how Boeing’s internal decisions, aimed at boosting profitability, led to two tragic crashes and billions in losses. Similarly, questionable behaviours by Democratic Party leaders have eroded public confidence in the party’s leadership.
Boeing’s internal decisions, aimed at boosting profitability, led to two tragic crashes and billions in losses
Bad News Spreads:
While these examples may seem irrelevant to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the reality remains: Poor cultural practices affect people, and people are your customers, the lifeblood of your business. As the saying goes, a bad review spreads ten times faster than a good one, and the damage to trust and reputation can take years to repair.
Leaders are the Exemplars:
Leaders Set The Tone for their organizations, establishing precedents for what is tolerated and accepted and the boundaries that define the culture. I once worked with a professional services manager who, rather than training staff to address the root cause of customer needs, told the team, “You are the experts, not the customers.” Unsurprisingly, many key customers were dissatisfied.
Leaders Action:
The Actions of Leaders—what they tolerate and how they respond to events—provide valuable insights for customers, stakeholders, and employees. Actions that contradict a leader’s message result in a loss of trust. Conversely, delivering a clear and direct message, even when contentious, earns respect and trust over time.
Take the example of Kamala Harris’ campaign. A common concern was the disconnect between her message and actions. Despite many people’s desire to support her, they struggled to reconcile her words with her actions. Post-election, Harris’ immediate and continued responses have remained under constant scrutiny. More and more Political Pundits are concluding that she has lost public confidence, appears disconnected from the people she aims to lead, and faces significant career challenges. In contrast, confidence in Donald Trump’s leadership and vision for a prosperous America has risen significantly.
Leadership Lessons: The Impact of Actions on Perceptions
We’ve all encountered leaders whose initial charm and quick decisions inspired confidence, only to leave us questioning their judgment and intentions soon after. This type of behaviour can sometimes hide a lack of true leadership ability. Flip-flopping in their decision-making—marked by frequent shifts in priorities, unclear guidance, or mixed messages—can signal gaps in strategic clarity. These patterns not only create confusion for teams and stakeholders but also erode trust and hinder effectiveness.
Strategies designed to win over people fall short if they lack substance—sound information and solid insights must underpin decisions and actions. True success comes from actions grounded in evidence and understanding, leading to stronger team alignment and consistent customer satisfaction.
Post-Election Observations: Key Behaviours and Lessons
Harris Supporters: Navigating Discontent and Adaptability
The reactions from Harris supporters highlight various coping mechanisms and strategic choices following a political loss:
- Public Outcry and Self-Defeating Actions: A noticeable fraction of Harris supporters dominated the response by expressing frustration on social media, engaging in performative acts, and behaving in ways that puzzled political observers. These actions likely reinforced the defectors’ decisions to support the other party.
- Vocal Rebellion: A smaller group actively leveraged their influence to oppose the new administration, taking a firm stance against Trump’s policies.
- Quiet Acceptance: Many previously vocal supporters have gone silent, while others have accepted defeat as a necessary step toward future opportunities.
- Shifting Public Stances: Some supporters are recalibrating their positions to adapt to the new political reality, seeking to maintain credibility while aligning with current circumstances.
Business Lesson:
Leaders and organizations can learn from these varied responses. If left unaddressed, emotional reactions—whether in victory or defeat—impede progress. Leaders are expected to adjust positions based on new information, but erratic shifts without evidence signal mental discord, eroding confidence. Managing by objectives is the safest strategy to avoid this. By anchoring decisions in strategic objectives, leaders minimize errors driven by emotion.
Trump Supporters: The Drive for Action and Immediate Results:
Trump’s immediate actions, such as appointing leaders to address key campaign issues, were perceived as decisive and results-oriented. Post-election, Trump’s team and supporters exhibited a mixture of triumph, ambition, and eagerness to implement their agenda:
- Historic Team: Many surrounding Trump are strategically positioning themselves for key roles in his administration, eager to contribute to a historic presidency.
- Triumphant Enthusiasm: Supporters openly celebrated their confidence in Trump’s ability to deliver prosperity.
- Agenda-Driven: This faction is highly motivated to push forward with their vision and implement their priorities.
- Impatience: Some supporters are likely to expect immediate results, showing little tolerance for delays. This impatience could create challenges if expectations exceed timelines or strategic planning.
- Long-Term Perspective: Looking ahead, it is expected that others will recognize that significant transformation takes time, demonstrating patience as goals transition from ideas to tangible outcomes.
Business Lesson:
Leaders must identify and address varying perspectives within their organizations or stakeholder groups. Clear communication, realistic milestones, and patience-building strategies are essential for maintaining alignment and momentum.
Bridging Emotional Responses with Strategic Adaptability
Managing the emotional responses of groups in SMBs—whether within teams, among clients, or across stakeholder networks—requires emotional intelligence and strategic foresight. SMB leaders can build resilient, adaptable teams by understanding the diverse behavioural patterns of their employees and customers, addressing frustrations like delays or miscommunication, and ensuring consistent, transparent communication.
Business leaders navigating market shifts or organizational changes must identify patterns of behaviour, expectations, and frustrations among their teams, clients, or stakeholders. Setting procedures and practices that are emotionally aligned with their business values and leverage strategic objectives to ensure clarity, unity, and long-term success.
Next Article, “Post Election Strategic Planning Insights for Business Leaders,”
At NM Corporate Strategy Inc., we aim to equip determined leaders with tools to identify fallacies, avoid common mistakes, and leverage strategic objectives to harmonize business operations. By aligning actions with your business vision, we solve brand, people, and culture challenges cost-effectively and practically, saving time and reducing disruption.
With discipline and a clear strategic path, you’ll foster collaboration and transform challenges into opportunities, driving growth in an ever-evolving landscape.
Post-Election Strategy Insights
Strategic planning is a cornerstone of effective leadership, critical for steering organizations toward long-term success. Yet, many businesses face challenges in aligning annual goals, leveraging past initiatives, and adapting to present realities.
Analyzing the strategic approaches of the Harris and Trump campaigns provides valuable insights into strategic plans, strategic execution, crisis management, and alignment. These examples underscore the importance of adaptability, transparency, and strategic communication—essential principles for leaders navigating uncertainty. By integrating these strategies, organizations can enhance performance, build trust, and thrive during periods of transition.
Key Insights for Business Leaders
Strategic Planning: Foundational to Leadership Success
- Strategic planning defines a leader’s ability to guide an organization toward its long-term objectives.
- Effective strategic planning involves aligning annual goals with past initiatives and future opportunities and adapting them to the current environment.
Campaign Insights for Business Strategy
- Harris Campaign’s Divided Pathways: Balancing loyalty and pragmatism is crucial. Over-reliance on loyalty risks alienating broader audiences, while transparent, adaptable strategies grounded in strategic thinking offer opportunities for growth. Businesses must prioritize actionable solutions and strategic questioning to build trust and credibility.
- Trump Campaign’s Clear Strategic Approach: Consistency in communication, defined authority, and proactive execution foster stability and leadership clarity. Unifying messages that emphasize accountability and inclusivity reinforce trust and confidence during transitions.
Strategic Lessons for Business Leaders
- Adaptability vs. Denial: Leaders must acknowledge challenges and adapt. Denial risks division and stagnation.
- Strategic Communication: Trust is built through consistent, values-driven communication.
- Defined Boundaries & Early Transparency: Set clear boundaries and share actionable plans to foster trust and accountability.
- Execution is Key: Strategy is not just about goals; it’s about clear communication, execution, and proactive action.
Final Takeaway
Strategic planning requires more than just setting goals—it demands adaptability, transparency, and a clear path to execution. Leaders who master these principles will build stronger, more resilient organizations capable of navigating uncertainty and achieving long-term success.
Read the Full article in the next tab.
Leadership Strategy Management Competency:
Strategic planning is foundational—it represents the first level of leadership competency, defining a leader’s ability to guide an organization toward long-term success. Effective strategic planning raises key questions:
- Lockestep – Do annual goals work together in alignment?
- Building – Do they build on past strategic initiatives?
- Foundation – Do they lay the groundwork for future opportunities?
- Versatile – Are they adapted to the current environment, resources, and organizational capabilities?
While these questions may appear obvious, straightforward even; many leaders struggle to answer them confidently. Often, annual goals fail to provide clarity or alignment, even when scrutinized against these benchmarks.
Analyzing the strategic responses of the Harris and Trump campaigns one month later revealed valuable lessons for leaders on strategic execution, crisis management, and organizational alignment.
From their initial communication strategies and strategically timed messages to their choice of timing, language, and presence, these responses offer insights into the strategic factors shaping leadership in volatile and uncertain environments. Political experts rely on timing, clarity, adaptability, transparency, and strategic messaging to assess long-term strategic implications and forecast organizational shifts for the next four years.
These examples underscore key strategic principles such as adaptability, transparency, and strategic communication—principles that are vital for any leader navigating competitive, uncertain, or rapidly changing circumstances.
Harris Campaign Forecast: Two Diverging Paths
The Harris campaign currently finds itself divided into two distinct factions, each with different strategies, perspectives, and risks. Understanding these divisions offers valuable insights into how political organizations—and, by extension, businesses—navigate internal conflicts during times of change.
1. The Loyalists
- Focus: This group remains steadfast in its position, often in denial about the election outcome. Its strategy revolves around seizing every opportunity to convince the public that errors were made, emphasizing its loss narrative, and criticizing its opponent.
- Risk Factor: While this approach shows commitment, it carries the risk of alienating voters by appearing out of touch with broader societal concerns. Over time, this could lead to a loss of relevance and credibility.
2. The Pragmatic Group
- Focus: This faction is actively questioning the strategies and decision-making processes that led to the recent electoral outcome. They engage in open discussions about the future direction of the campaign and the party, share concerns, and explore alternative, strategic solutions.
- Opportunity for Growth: As voters and party members increasingly recognize flaws in previous strategies, the pragmatic group stands to gain influence and support by offering a vision grounded in adaptability, strategic thinking, and transparent planning.
Strategic Lesson
Organizations must find the right balance between loyalty and pragmatism. Denial and blame without actionable solutions can erode trust and credibility. Conversely, strategic questioning, transparency, and clear, well-communicated planning can rebuild confidence, foster trust, and secure long-term support.
In any organization, leaders must select a decisive path forward and ensure they rally the entire team to follow that directive. When businesses are divided or lack alignment, it creates confusion among employees, customers, and the market. This disarray damages the brand, leads to inefficiencies, and results in financial losses. Clear direction and unified leadership are essential to maintain organizational focus, foster trust, and achieve strategic objectives.
Trump’s Strategic Approach: A Clear, Multi-Layered Plan
From the outset, Trump’s strategic approach was rooted in comprehensive stakeholder insights, gathering input from the public and key constituencies. Even after securing office, his actions continued to align with the initial strategic plan. Notably, he did not deviate, modify, or abandon any of the promises that defined his campaign.
His campaign adopted a focused and strategic approach, emphasizing trust-building, operational boundaries, and transparency. These strategies highlight a proactive model for engaging stakeholders, maintaining trust, and fostering accountability.
1. Communication Strategy
- Approach: Trump’s campaign strategically prioritized building, maintaining, and expanding trust across diverse voter groups. His recent December 9th interview serves as a prime example, as it aimed to strengthen public confidence while aligning key stakeholders through a focus on shared priorities and a clear, actionable vision.
- Business Insight: Trust-building is a critical pillar during times of transition. Transparent and consistent communication not only reassures key audiences but also reduces uncertainty and fosters long-term confidence in leadership.
2. Establishing Boundaries Strategies
- Approach: Trump’s administration moved decisively to assert authority early, proactively addressing opposition and defining clear operational boundaries. This strategy minimized uncertainty, established stability, and effectively empowered appointed leaders to address public concerns. This suggests that these leaders have equipped themselves with clearly defined strategic plans that enabled them to navigate tensions, reinforce organizational stability, and maintain cohesive leadership during periods of political transition.
- Business Insight: In organizations, clearly defined operational boundaries empower leaders to confidently execute their roles, align teams with overarching objectives, and mitigate risks. Proactively addressing potential challenges fosters stability during strategic shifts, ensuring smooth transitions and sustained progress.
3: Strategic Execution Strategies: Gates Style
- Approach: From the outset, Trump’s administration has prioritized early transparency by presenting a clear, actionable plan tied to measurable goals. This accountability-focused approach enables Americans to evaluate progress, reinforces confidence in the administration’s leadership, and sets clear expectations for future initiatives. Appointments like the Border Czar, Efficiency Director, and FBI Head illustrate this dedication to clarity and results-oriented leadership. These moves signal not only a commitment to addressing public concerns proactively but also a structured path forward, ensuring the public understands what’s being done and what lies ahead.
- Business Insight: Clear goals and measurable outcomes are fundamental to fostering accountability and stakeholder trust. Transparent leadership aligns teams, reduces uncertainty, and builds confidence in an organization’s capacity to navigate complexity and deliver meaningful results.
4: Trust-Building Strategies: Gates Style
- Approach: Throughout his campaign and post-election period, Trump emphasized a unifying message: he would serve all Americans, not just his supporters. This consistent focus on unity and collective progress reinforced his commitment to inclusivity and the broader national interest. His messaging demonstrated a strategic effort to bridge divides and build trust across diverse groups, showcasing leadership grounded in shared purpose and accountability.
- Business Insight: Effective leaders craft strategies that encompass the needs of the entire organization, not just areas of familiarity or comfort. By addressing inefficiencies, removing barriers, and engaging all stakeholders—supportive or otherwise—leaders build a cohesive, high-performing organization that aligns with long-term goals.
- Core Principle: Strategy is not personal. It is objective, grounded in purpose, and always aligned with the organization’s mission and overarching priorities.
Strategic Lessons
Strategic Insight begins with understanding the unique context of the business—its current state, operational strengths, and challenges. This clarity provides the foundation for effective execution. Transparency, combined with accountability and proactive action, forms the bedrock of strategic success. Setting clear, measurable goals and openly sharing progress not only demonstrates responsibility but also builds trust and confidence over time.
Strategic Takeaways for Leaders
The insights from both the Harris and Trump campaign strategies underscore key lessons for leaders across industries:
- Adaptability vs. Denial: A balance between acknowledging challenges, learning from setbacks, and fostering adaptability is crucial. Denial risks further division and disconnection from stakeholders.
- Strategic Communication: Trust is earned through consistent, transparent, and values-driven communication. Whether leading a political campaign or a business, clear communication builds confidence and alignment.
- Defined Boundaries & Early Transparency: Proactively setting strategic boundaries and maintaining transparency by sharing action plans with measurable goals fosters accountability and builds trust among audiences and stakeholders.
Strategic planning isn’t just about goals—it’s about execution, communication, adaptability, and connection. Leaders who integrate these principles into their strategies will be better equipped to navigate complex transitions and achieve long-term success.
At NM Corporate Strategy Inc., we aim to equip determined leaders with tools to identify fallacies, avoid common mistakes, and leverage strategic objectives to harmonize business operations. By aligning actions with your business vision, we solve brand, people, and culture challenges cost-effectively and practically, saving time and reducing disruption.
With discipline and a clear strategic path, you’ll foster collaboration and transform challenges into opportunities, driving growth in an ever-evolving landscape.
Leadership and Competency
The article examines the multifaceted nature of leadership competency, emphasizing its foundation in experience, skills, emotional intelligence, and values. Using the Harris and Trump campaigns as case studies, it explores how leadership competency influences public perception, decision-making, and organizational success.
Harris’s struggles with strategic decision-making and public perception are critiqued, contrasted with Trump’s results-oriented leadership approach. Incorporating Jordan Peterson’s “Hierarchy of Competence,” the article offers a framework for prioritizing skill and expertise in organizations. It concludes with actionable lessons for SMBs on the importance of balancing values with expertise and fostering trust through strategic, measurable outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
- Leadership Competency is Multifaceted: Effective leadership is a mix of experience, skills, emotional intelligence, and values, not just technical expertise or soft skills.
- The Importance of Strategic Decision-Making: Leaders must balance quick reactions with long-term strategic vision to maintain trust and credibility.
- Public Perception of Leadership Matters: Lack of clarity in leadership decisions, especially under pressure, can erode confidence and undermine authority.
- Competency Hierarchy in Organizations: Jordan Peterson’s framework of competence hierarchies shows that leaders must demonstrate proven expertise and results to rise in organizations and society.
- Lesson for SMBs: Businesses should focus on placing competent individuals in leadership roles, ensuring strategic decisions align with organizational goals, and balancing inclusivity with performance.
- Trump’s Focus on Results: The emphasis on results-driven leadership and competency-based hiring can serve as a model for organizations seeking stability and growth during uncertain times.
- NMCS Approach: The importance of proactive, competency-driven leadership that integrates strategic intelligence to achieve measurable results and align with business goals.
This article underscores that leadership decisions, driven by competency and strategic foresight, are crucial to maintaining public trust and driving organizational success.
Read the Full article in the next tab.
Competency in Leadership:
There are many schools of thought on what competency in leadership really is. Some prioritize industry expertise over social and people skills, while others emphasize soft skills over technical knowledge. While it is important to note that competency in leadership differs from technical competency, the truth is that leadership competency is an intricate balance of experience, information, skills, and emotional intelligence.
Leadership decisions often hinge on the interplay between values, strategy, and effectiveness. The recent political landscape provides a compelling case study that will excite educators and pollical pundits for decades when discussing and analyzing the role of competency in Presidential leadership.
Looking back at the campaign and the month following the elections, it is apparent that the Harris campaign’s decision-making processes were significantly more compromised than those of the Trump campaign. Decisions appeared reactive rather than strategic, leaving the public desperately searching for reasons to validate the campaign’s direction and leadership choices. This perception not only reflected a lack of clarity but also weakened overall confidence in the Harris team’s ability to adapt under pressure.
The Harris Campaign: A Struggle with Competency and Public Perception
It has been over a month since the election, and the Harris campaign continues to be under intense scrutiny—not only for its campaign execution but also for its strategic approach and inability to effectively navigate the aftermath of its election loss. At the heart of this critique is a perceived lack of strategic decision-making competency in campaign execution and post-defeat strategic response.
- Questions of Leadership Criteria: Critics have raised concerns about the democratic process and decision-making criteria used to elevate Kamala Harris to her leadership position. Despite efforts to defend these decisions, public and intra-party confidence remains shaken.
- Public Discontent: The perception that leadership decisions were politically motivated rather than merit-based has eroded confidence among the electorate and key stakeholders. This misalignment highlights a common challenge: failing to balance values with demonstrated strategic capability.
While Harris has checked certain boxes regarding experience, education, and party support, the assessment of her lack of effectiveness raises critical questions about her competencies for one of the most prominent offices in the world. More so, her ability to function under pressure has been a recurring point of contention, with many scrutinizing her laughter as nervous laughter—a behaviour often interpreted as a lack of the professional gravitas necessary for high-stakes environments. This scrutiny is amplified by historical comparisons to leaders who demonstrated exceptional composure and decisive action during crises. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s leadership during the Great Depression and Winston Churchill’s resolve in World War II are benchmarks for effective crisis management. These leaders thrived under immense pressure, using clarity, strategy, and poise to inspire confidence and navigate turmoil. In contrast, Harris’s public perception struggles to align with these historical examples, raising deeper concerns about her capacity to lead effectively in similarly demanding circumstances – in today’s chaotic global conditions.
Business Insight:
Effective leadership combines strategic vision, executing strategic vision, decision-making grounded in merit, and skills of influence. Leaders must ensure that their choices align with organizational goals and stakeholder expectations. A respected business coach once said that anyone can lead a well-performing organization to maintain its performance; however, only a strong leader can turn around a poor-performing business. Leadership is more than maintaining performance when the business is stable; it is about excelling under intense scrutiny and pressure to execute your strategic objectives while driving growth. Overreliance on political or expedient strategies at the expense of proven competency can undermine trust and performance.
Trump’s Leadership Strategy: A Focus on Capability
Donald Trump’s leadership capabilities have also been debated. While his approach sparked polarized opinions, one notable distinction during his administration was the emphasis on competency and results-driven leadership. This stands in contrast to trends in other sectors, where, while important, diversity, inclusivity, and equality initiatives occasionally overshadow the need for proven skills and merit.
- The Noble Intention vs. Results Dilemma: Promoting diversity is vital for equity and inclusion, but organizations must also ensure leadership appointments must possess relevant leadership performance capabilities. Sometimes, leadership roles are filled without a rigorous evaluation of competency, resulting in decreased productivity and efficiency. Historical examples, such as the 2008 financial crisis, highlight how misaligned leadership decisions by underqualified executives exacerbated systemic failures. In contrast, leaders like Lee Iacocca, who turned around Chrysler in the 1980s, exemplify how capable leadership can steer organizations back from the brink.
- Strategic Prioritization of Results: Trump’s administration underscored a results-driven focus on leadership, with decisions that can favour expertise and measurable outcomes over political or symbolic gestures. This approach is a critical lesson for businesses: prioritizing capable leadership fosters long-term success and adaptability. It recalls historical precedents, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs, which prioritized pragmatic solutions and competent leadership during a time of crisis. This comparison reinforces the necessity of aligning leadership decisions with strategic priorities and proven effectiveness.
Jordan Peterson’s “Hierarchy of Competence” and Its Business Implications
Jordan Peterson discusses the hierarchy of competence as a conceptual framework to explain how competence organizes societies and hierarchies.
Key Aspects of the Hierarchy of Competence:
- Competence vs. Power: Peterson argues that hierarchies in human societies are primarily based on competence rather than power or exploitation. Competence refers to an individual’s ability to solve problems, contribute to the group, and succeed in a given domain. These hierarchies are often meritocratic, rewarding those who demonstrate skill, reliability, and value in their roles.
- Specialization of Competence: Individuals excel in specific areas based on their talents and efforts. Over time, society rewards those who perform exceptionally well in their field, leading to the emergence of hierarchies. For example, someone who demonstrates exceptional leadership, creativity, or technical ability naturally ascends to higher positions within organizations or social structures.
- Pareto Principle in Hierarchies: Peterson highlights the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) to explain the distribution of competence and success within a hierarchy. A small percentage of people (the most competent) achieve the majority of outcomes or rewards. This principle contributes to inequality in hierarchies but reflects the natural result of varied competence levels across individuals.
- Stability and Productivity of Competence Hierarchies: Properly functioning competence hierarchies are essential for societal stability and progress. They allow for the efficient division of labour and reward systems that motivate innovation and hard work. Dysfunction arises when hierarchies become corrupt, favouring nepotism, deceit, or exploitation rather than genuine competence.
- Iterative Development: People develop competence through discipline, responsibility, and iterative improvement over time. Peterson stresses personal responsibility as a cornerstone for ascending the hierarchy.
- Ethics of Hierarchies: While Peterson defends the necessity of competence hierarchies, he also acknowledges the potential for abuse when hierarchies become too rigid or corrupted. He suggests that ethical vigilance is crucial to maintaining fair and functional systems.
Jordan Peterson’s hierarchy of competence highlights societies’ natural and necessary organization around skills and capabilities. It emphasizes meritocracy and personal responsibility while warning against the dangers of corruption within these systems. While this may appear complex for small and medium-sized businesses, the relevant insights can be extracted and adapted to smaller organizations’ resource constraints and operating models.
Lessons for SMBs and Organizational Leaders
An analysis of the leadership strategies from both the Harris and Trump camps provides critical insights for businesses:
- Competency Matters: Strategic leadership relies on placing individuals with the right skills and expertise in key roles—not merely those with political affiliations or good intentions.
- Balance is Key: Diversity and inclusivity are essential but should not compromise leadership performance or organizational productivity. Strategic decisions must integrate values with proven expertise.
- Effective Leadership Signals Confidence: Leaders prioritizing measurable outcomes, strategic skill, and transparency build trust and align teams toward sustainable success.
The Trump administration’s emphasis on skill-based hiring and results-driven leadership highlights a strategic model that organizations can emulate. Prioritizing proven leadership and focusing on results provides stability, accountability, and competitive advantages in times of uncertainty or competition. We may disagree with how he chooses competency over other criteria; however, given the strategic approach taken, we can conclude that the evaluation criteria go above what is discussed in the public domain.
NM Corporate Strategy Inc.: Empowering Leaders
At NMCS, we believe that business success hinges on results. Regardless of individual preferences, year-end performance is always measured by outcomes. That’s why we focus on equipping leaders with the tools to manage progress proactively. Instead of waiting for results to reveal losses, we enable leaders to take timely, decisive action to course-correct and realign their businesses with strategic goals.
Our approach integrates practical solutions to address brand, people, and culture challenges cost-effectively, saving time and minimizing disruption. By combining strategic intelligence with a focus on competency, we help drive results that reflect your business vision.
Strategic Projection and Forecast for 2025
The article highlights the importance of incorporating four often overlooked factors—behaviour, practices, mindset, and adaptability—into forecasting and strategic planning. Traditional forecasting methods that rely solely on historical data tend to overlook these human and dynamic elements, which can lead to inaccurate projections. By considering these factors, organizations can create more precise and actionable forecasts, better aligned with the evolving market conditions.
The article also examines the political landscape for 2025, emphasizing the expectations of Americans, key trends, and the challenges faced by the Trump administration. The analysis explores how political dynamics will shape governance and the priorities for the first year in office. It discusses internal power struggles, quick wins, and the competency-driven nature of political teams, providing insights into the business implications of these shifts.
Key Takeaway for Leaders
Effective Forecasting:
For accurate forecasting, it’s essential to include human factors such as behaviour, practices, mindset, and adaptability. These elements influence how markets and organizations evolve, helping leaders make better predictions and adapt strategies in real-time.
Political Outlook for 2025:
The Trump administration will face significant public pressure, internal power struggles, and the need for quick, visible policy changes. However, these challenges provide opportunities to push forward agendas while managing expectations and fostering trust.
Strategic Lessons for Leaders:
- Strategic Objectives: Leaders must ensure clear alignment between organizational goals and individual values to prevent disengagement and drive commitment.
- Competency-Driven Teams: Build teams with diverse skills and the ability to adapt and solve problems under pressure, fostering innovation and collaboration.
- Versatility: Businesses should differentiate between operational disruptions and strategic shifts. Flexibility and agility are crucial for navigating both short-term challenges and long-term transformations.
- Transparency and Metrics: Clear goals and measurable outcomes are essential for building trust, accountability, and engagement within teams.
Strategic Foresight:
Both businesses and political leaders need adaptability and strategic foresight to thrive in uncertain environments. By adopting a learning mindset and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, organizations can remain resilient and successful amidst change.
Read the Full article in the next tab.
Strategic Projection and Forecast for 2025
Effective forecasting requires more than just numbers and trends. Many organizations rely on data-driven models and established procedures to predict future outcomes. Still, these methods often fail because they exclude four critical yet often overlooked factors: behaviour, practices, mindset, and adaptability.
Traditional forecasting systems and SOPs often fall short because many fail to account for these human and dynamic elements. Forecasts based solely on historical data and trends can lead to inaccuracies, especially when faced with unknowns or unexpected changes in the business environment. Without considering the impact of human behaviour, organizational practices, and the ability to adapt, projections risk becoming out of touch with reality, missing vital shifts in the marketplace, and failing to address the underlying factors that drive change.
The gap is clear: When forecasting excludes these four elements, it overlooks the forces that shape how markets and organizations evolve. Forecasting is not just about analyzing numbers—it’s about understanding how people think, act, and respond in uncertainty and how systems can adapt to stay relevant and resilient.
This final article in our series will not revisit the abundant predictions already available regarding immigration, tax reform, economic, foreign, healthcare, environmental, judicial, and social policies. Instead, it will focus on the strategic elements that influence forecasting and analyze how these factors will impact the administration’s performance and progress in 2025.
One of the key reasons for my success, where others with more experience struggled, was my ability to integrate critical insights into behaviours, practices, mindset, and adaptability when planning. By factoring in these elements when setting expectations, defining goals, and establishing rules of engagement, I was able to leverage the strengths and opportunities of all stakeholders while addressing weaknesses and threats—without making it personal. Instead, I focused on defining objectives everyone could align with and commit to. This approach not only fostered alignment and cooperation across the team but also significantly increased the accuracy of our projections and forecasts. By incorporating these dynamic, human-centred factors, we were able to anticipate shifts and adjust our strategies in real time, resulting in more precise and actionable forecasts that were better aligned with the evolving landscape.
- Behaviours – How individuals respond and the underlying logic, reasoning, and agendas that drive those responses. For example, how policymakers react to public opinion often shapes the trajectory of significant reforms.
- Practices – Practices differ from behaviours in that they encompass the routines individuals or groups choose to follow. These may include specific processes or sequences of steps to accomplish tasks. Practices can arise from individual behaviours or directives from collective decision-making groups.
- Mindset – This relates to how individuals perceive and respond to situations, whether logically or emotionally. For example, a pragmatic mindset might focus on data-driven decision-making, while an emotional mindset might prioritize immediate public sentiment.
- Adaptability – The ability to adjust opinions and assessments in response to new information or differing perspectives, challenging the status quo and one’s previous opinions or conclusions when necessary.
Political Outlook: Key Trends to Watch for in 2025
Americans’ Expectations
The current state of affairs feels desperate and urgent for many Americans. There is a strong push for swift reforms that will alleviate their burdens, relieve stress, and create the opportunities they believe are essential to improving their own and their families’ quality of life. This sense of urgency and desperation will play a critical role in shaping how the Trump administration responds and acts during its first 12 months in office.
While the Trump administration works behind the scenes, the following issues will dominate public discourse and shape the administration’s communication strategy and strategic priorities. In the first 12 months, we can expect:
Increased Wealth:
The administration will tackle low-hanging fruits to lower the cost of living, which will increase household wealth. This includes reducing prices on essentials like groceries and housing while keeping inflation under control. These actions are vital for restoring financial stability to households across the country.
Cultural Priorities:
A shift in cultural practices is already underway in America, and similar discussions are happening globally as nations explore how to return to foundational values. In the first 12 months, we can expect policy proposals focused on protecting families and children while ensuring fairness and avoiding the penalization of minorities. Over the past decade, exceptions have often disrupted societal norms, leading to imbalances. Correcting this trend will aim to strengthen communities and promote long-term societal well-being.
Focused Governance:
The public will expect the Trump administration to take significant steps to reduce the national deficit and implement meaningful government reforms. Initial efforts will likely focus on quick, straightforward actions to cut costs, improve fiscal policies, and promote sustainable economic growth, which will directly benefit citizens’ wealth and well-being.
As these immediate fixes are addressed, the administration is expected to shift its attention to more complex, systemic reforms. To achieve meaningful and lasting changes, these longer-term efforts will require sustained lobbying, political collaboration, and strategic planning.
At the same time, public pressure for a government that prioritizes the needs of everyday people over corporate interests will continue. Restoring trust in government institutions will depend on transparency, fairness in policymaking, and policies that clearly deliver tangible benefits to the broader population.
Party Politics – Expectations
The first year of the Trump administration is unlikely to be smooth sailing. The campaign promises are not straightforward to deliver. They are increasingly challenging against the backdrop of dire economic, aggressive resistance from the opposition, social landscape and the historical significance of this presidency. These circumstances will create unique challenges and opportunities—some of which may accelerate certain agendas while obstructing others.
Over the next 12 months, the following trends in party politics are likely to emerge:
Early Power Struggles
- The administration will encounter turbulence as it establishes internal stability and navigates opposition. This “storming” phase, typical of group dynamics, will be intensified by external pressures and conflicting agendas.
- Opposition parties will exploit every opportunity to challenge policies—not solely on ideological grounds but also to undermine progress for political leverage.
- Internal party struggles for dominance may further disrupt efficiency and focus.
- Legislative tools, public campaigns, and strategic alliances will become weapons for both parties, often leading to public standoffs.
- Leadership turnover will be swift, with President Trump expected to replace individuals who are misaligned with his vision, ensuring that his agenda remains the priority.
Quick Wins and Managing Expectations
- The administration will prioritize easily achievable policy milestones within its first 100 days to build trust and momentum.
- Public communication will play a critical role, highlighting successes to temper expectations for complex issues requiring longer-term solutions.
Transition Period and Learning Curve
- Despite preparation, unforeseen challenges will arise, such as resistance from the outgoing administration. For instance, delays in initiatives like the FBI’s remote work efficiency program may complicate early efforts.
- Early missteps and controversies will fuel public debate, necessitating strategic adjustments to maintain trust and momentum.
- Scrutiny of appointees may result in resignations or replacements, adding complexity to the administration’s transition.
Competency-Driven Teams
- With limited time to deliver on promises, President Trump will prioritize resourceful, results-driven appointees, even if they lack traditional experience.
- Competency will focus on innovation, problem-solving, and execution rather than conventional qualifications. While critics may question these choices, the administration aims to validate them through tangible results.
- Some appointees will fail to meet expectations. Quick corrective actions will be essential to sustain progress.
Stabilization
- By mid-2025, the administration will shift from reactive measures to a more consistent and strategic operational framework.
- Power struggles will persist but will be managed through established practices, enabling the administration to focus on longer-term policymaking.
Business Applications: Lessons for Leaders
1: Strategic Objectives:
In early 2025, employees will assess leadership’s goals to determine whether these align with their values and long-term interests. Without this alignment, organizations risk disengagement, including phenomena like “quiet quitting.” The lesson for leaders is clear: success begins with unambiguous, well-communicated strategic objectives. Goals must not only resonate with the company’s vision but also demonstrate their relevance to individual contributions. Key Actions: Define strategic objectives with precision, ensuring they connect to a broader narrative of purpose and progress. Prioritize frequent, transparent communication to build understanding and alignment across teams. Anticipate obstacles and address execution gaps swiftly to maintain momentum and credibility.
2: Competency-Driven Teams:
Competency today is multifaceted. It is no longer just about technical expertise; it’s about adaptability, resourcefulness, and the ability to inspire and lead under pressure. Effective leaders must assemble teams that balance complementary strengths. This fosters collaboration while keeping the organization competitive and poised for growth.
Practical Insights: Prioritize team diversity—not just in demographics but in skills and problem-solving approaches. Encourage cross-functional collaboration to maximize creativity and innovation. Invest in leadership development to equip managers with the tools to navigate complexity and inspire confidence.
3. Versatility
Businesses must distinguish between operational disruptions—short-term challenges that require immediate attention—and strategic shifts, which involve fundamental changes to the organization’s strategies and goals. Each scenario demands a unique approach:
- Operational disruptions necessitate agility to maintain business continuity and minimize disruption to day-to-day activities.
- Strategic shifts require a comprehensive re-evaluation of the business strategy, ensuring that current actions align with long-term objectives. This often means assessing whether existing strategies contribute to or detract from the organization’s vision and making necessary adjustments.
Leaders who adopt a learning mindset can leverage disruptions as opportunities for innovation, transforming challenges into catalysts for growth and resilience.
Advice for Leaders
- Build Flexible Systems – design systems and frameworks that empower employees to creatively solve problems while operating within the organization’s operational and strategic boundaries. Flexibility should support innovation without compromising strategic alignment.
- Cultivate a Culture of Continuous Improvement—Foster an environment where setbacks are seen as opportunities to learn, adapt, and improve. Encourage teams to experiment, analyze outcomes, and iterate on solutions to stay ahead of challenges.
By focusing on versatility, leaders can ensure that their organizations are equipped to handle immediate challenges and long-term transformations, building a resilient and innovative future.
4: Transparency and Metrics
Clarity in goals and metrics creates a foundation for accountability, trust, and engagement. Teams that understand what’s expected, how success will be measured, and how they contribute are more motivated and productive.
Best Practices: Establish clear, measurable outcomes for all major initiatives, with visible benchmarks for tracking progress. Communicate regularly, celebrating achievements to reinforce alignment and commitment. Ensure that performance metrics are not only tied to financial outcomes but also reflect organizational values, such as sustainability, equity, and innovation.
Strategic Foresight: Navigating Change
The early months following a major political shift reaffirm a timeless truth: strategic foresight, adaptability, and accountability are essential for navigating uncertainty. Whether assessing political trends or managing business operations, these principles lay the foundation for sustainable success.
Organizations facing power struggles, quick wins, or learning curves can adapt these lessons to anticipate challenges, prioritize actions, and maintain the agility needed to thrive.
At NM Corporate Strategy Inc., we empower leaders to identify fallacies, avoid common mistakes, and align actions with their business vision. Through practical, cost-effective strategies, we help businesses harmonize operations, overcome challenges, and drive growth in an evolving landscape.
