“All stakeholders need a role in setting strategic direction.”

As the pace of change accelerates and the business environment becomes more complex, it will become increasingly difficult for any small group of senior executives to chart the path of corporate renewal. That’s why the responsibility for defining direction must be broadly shared—with all organizational members and interested external constituencies. Only a broad, participatory process can engender wholehearted and widespread commitment to proactive change. When it comes to setting direction, influence should be a product of foresight and insight rather than power and position.