‘It’s not going away, and we have to face that reality.” That’s what the CEO and founder of a quality-centered high-tech manufacturing startup with 180 employees told the leadership team in early July 2020 to convince them of the need to do a strategic pivot to address Covid-19.

Previously, the startup’s executives took things one step at a time, putting out the various Covid-related fires that flared up more and more often: supply chain disruptions, cancelled orders, employees having difficulties with work-from-home setups or needing flex time to manage kids or elderly relatives.

Seeing more of the broad picture, the CEO realized the company was going in the wrong direction. One of the members of the board recommended my recently published book on strategic pivoting to adapt to Covid and plan for the post-pandemic recovery. After a quick read, the CEO convinced the other leadership team members that the company needed to do a strategic pivot to address Covid. He then had his executive assistant contact me and arrange for a facilitated strategic retreat on the subject.

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