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Writer's pictureDr. Marvilano

Overview of Strategy Tools: Tipping Point Leadership


We're often faced with such widespread problems that call for organizational-scale reforms. But instead of making those sweeping changes that cost time and money, what if you faced those problems that matter most? This strategic compromise brings us to the Tipping Point Leadership (TPL) strategy.


Focus on the extremes, instead of the mass of employees, will tip the change faster.
Focus on the extremes, instead of the mass of employees, will tip the change faster.


What is it?

The Tipping Point Leadership strategy tackles institutional challenges by focusing on the extremes. It is a strategy that seeks to pull the most important levers—the people, operations, or resources with the biggest influence. The trick is that these strategic levers will, in turn, whip the other parts into place.


It was developed by researchers W. Chan Kim and Renee as the product of their observation of the famous New York police commissioner—William Bratton. These researchers outlined four hurdles managers face to achieve real change. They related these hurdles to those faced by Bratton in revamping the notoriously difficult New York policing terrain.


Cognitive hurdle: Organization tied to status quo

People will only address the problems they acknowledge. Your first task will often be to help your team recognize the challenge.


Resource hurdle: Insufficient resources

The big question here is thus: what do you do when facing more problems than your available resources can cater to? Bratton's advice was to focus on the most critical issues.


Motivational hurdle: People aren't motivated

Managers must keep a keen eye on their team to scale the motivational hurdle. The goal is to drive them to perform their duties to the expected standards.


Political hurdle: Oppositions from powerful parties

Think of the influence wielded by those in high authority. They make one big policy decision, and the market can turn on its head. The key is to have at least one big political influence in your corner.



When do we use it?

The Tipping point leadership strategy is used by people in positions of authority to:


Implement strategic changes

You can achieve organizational and strategic change only by laying the right groundwork. And this is what the TPL strategy aims to achieve by providing the right approach.


Motivate people to action

A good leader must inspire confidence even among the most unwilling people. They must be able to spur their team to achieve their goals and see the bigger picture. This is the core message of the TPL strategy.


Tackle external influences in business settings

Every business will come under the influence (political, economic, etc.) of its environment. The TPL framework suggests that these influences can be leveraged rather than managed.


Manage resource deficits

Very few businesses can boast of having everything they need at all times—some fare even worse. With the TPL strategy, the key is prioritizing the areas that need the most resources.



What business questions is it helping us to answer?

The Tipping point leadership strategy provides certain organizational solutions that answer the following questions.


How can I maximize the limited resources available to me?

What is the most bang you can make from every single buck of available resources? What areas are critical and will achieve the biggest impact?


How can I get my team to be on the same page?

Real change is often the product of collaboration: by rallying team efforts to achieve collective action. And the TPL framework encourages us to get key stakeholders to buy into our ideas.


What is the shortest route to achieving real change?

The TPL strategy proves that you can achieve your goals quicker with deliberate action. It recommends focusing on the most critical issues, getting the best hands, and setting well-defined goals.


What hurdles must I scale to achieve real change?

Every business has unique challenges that must be resolved to achieve its goals and objectives. So while the TPL framework suggests four of the most visible hurdles a business faces, it also offers measures that you can take to surmount them.



How do we use it?

Here, we'll discuss the measures you can use to execute a Tipping point strategy in your organization.


Identify and address the most critical issues

These critical issues can pose the biggest threats or present the biggest prospects. The TPL strategy is to focus on key deliverables. Fill up key positions and focus your time and resources.


Make your goals and vision clear to all

Your team must buy into your goals for you to achieve any real change. To do this, outline your goals in clear, measurable, and practical terms to everyone across the board.


Engage the key influencers

Do you have a problem aligning your team with your goals? Or do you meet with difficulty while trying to make big moves? The solution is to get your organization's key influencers to leverage their networks and spread your message.


Trust your people

Trust is a social currency that gains and loses value with time. So it is both important to gain the trust of your team and trust your team as well. Delegate your authority further than the power chain from time to time.



Practical Example

We'll use the William Bratton case to show how the Tipping point leadership strategy can be used to address the four key business hurdles.


Resources hurdle

Bratton is known to have used statistical analysis to identify areas of need. For example, he used the narcotics-induced crime statistics (about 30% of new york's crime data) to justify raising the narcotics division's meager 5% human capital allocation.


Cognitive hurdle

How else do you think that Bratton got those bigger cars for his squadron? His trick was easy. He got the general manager to ride out a district tour on one of his very small and uncomfortable cars. It worked like magic.


Motivational hurdle

The TPL strategy advises against overly incentivizing the work culture or piling undue pressure on staff. It recommends that you trust your team members to take the lead and deal with responsibility.


Political hurdle

Bratton's strategy was to court the favor of the local powers, and the Mayor was one of those whose help he often enlisted.



Advantages

It enables better decision-making

Bad decisions are the bane of every business. So managers must be logical, well-informed, and carefully think through their decisions to avoid any unpleasant fallout.


It helps to de-escalate workplace conflict

Workplace disagreements are inevitable. It is how you manage them that matters. The ideal manager (according to the TPL model) must know how to calm frayed nerves and create common ground.


It encourages change

The TPL strategy seeks to change the status quo and introduce strategic reforms to places in dire need. The trick is pretty simple. Change the most critical parts, and the rest will flow almost naturally.



Disadvantages

It is not easy to get every person in line

What if you have a plan all laid out for your team to follow, but some of your people have something different in mind? Do you force them to fall in line, or can you make the necessary compromise?


There's a danger of ignoring the less-apparent but serious problems

The TPL framework tends to focus on the most critical issues (the extremes), often at the expense of those considered to be secondary. Yet, these less-apparent problems can often pose the biggest threats.



 

Continue to explore strategy tools here.


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