--- title: Strategic Thinking | Founder-led (2) description: Founder-led | Thoughts from Alembic Strategy on profit, growth, strategy and performance (2) --- [![Alembicstrategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/logo.png?width=218&height=76&name=logo.png "Alembicstrategy")](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/) # Strategic Thinking ![Alembic-Resized-Max](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic-Resized-Max.jpg?width=2420&height=692&name=Alembic-Resized-Max.jpg) # Strategic Thinking - - [![Why is Business Change So Hard?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/why-change-is-so-hard.jpg?width=142&name=why-change-is-so-hard.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/why-is-business-change-so-hard) ## [Why is Business Change So Hard?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/why-is-business-change-so-hard) Get in touch: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com The word ‘change’ is often overlooked. At just 6 letters, the word is diminutive in appearance, almost [![David Gray](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/David%20edited-1.png) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/david-gray) [David Gray](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/david-gray) [![David Gray](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/David%20edited-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/david-gray) [David Gray](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/david-gray) [David Gray](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/david-gray) [![David Gray](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/David%20edited-1.png)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/david-gray) Nov 20, 2019 [![Confused Identity](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/alembic-workers-interacting.jpg?width=142&name=alembic-workers-interacting.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-power-of-identity) ## [Confused Identity](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/the-power-of-identity) Get in touch: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com Words are powerful. Consider the phrase "I love you". Imagine saying it to someone you are in a [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Oct 15, 2019 [![When Does Facilitation Work?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/llf.jpg?width=142&name=llf.jpg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/when-does-facilitation-work) ## [When Does Facilitation Work?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/when-does-facilitation-work) Meetings (big sigh) are one of the top complaints amongst leaders and senior managers. You may have thoughts during the meeting such as: "this issue [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Strategy Facilitator and Client Manager at Alembic Strategy [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Strategy Facilitator and Client Manager at Alembic Strategy [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Oct 5, 2018 [![Team: Are You More Than the Sum of Your Parts?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_c6s4nDxReIIQTGgR-R_MFg.jpeg?width=142&name=1_c6s4nDxReIIQTGgR-R_MFg.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/team-are-you-more-than-the-sum-of-your-parts-db9e98f9b836) ## [Team: Are You More Than the Sum of Your Parts?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/team-are-you-more-than-the-sum-of-your-parts-db9e98f9b836) Get in touch: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com Your team is fantastic, they turn up to work on time, they deliver an excellent service to your [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Strategy Facilitator and Client Manager at Alembic Strategy [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) [Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Strategy Facilitator and Client Manager at Alembic Strategy [![Roseanna Ramsey](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/People%20photos/Alembic%20People/Roseanna%20cropped%20photo-1-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/roseanna-farish) Aug 7, 2018 [![Successful Communication of Strategic Change Needs More Than Just One Neurone (Or Letting the Cat Out of the Bag)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_SQeB6gDfBft1FAswEqc1Rg.jpeg?width=142&name=1_SQeB6gDfBft1FAswEqc1Rg.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/successful-communication-of-strategic-change-needs-more-than-just-one-neurone-dda3b4230654) ## [Successful Communication of Strategic Change Needs More Than Just One Neurone (Or Letting the Cat Out of the Bag)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/successful-communication-of-strategic-change-needs-more-than-just-one-neurone-dda3b4230654) I get really bored of dumb binaries in strategic change conversations — leadership v management, top down v bottom up, theory x v theory y, [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Jun 9, 2018 [![Bias, Belief and the Pace of Change](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_C3N76A248vZFVrrstJuD3g.jpeg?width=142&name=1_C3N76A248vZFVrrstJuD3g.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/bias-belief-and-the-pace-of-change-59df0e1659b7) ## [Bias, Belief and the Pace of Change](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/bias-belief-and-the-pace-of-change-59df0e1659b7) Get in touch: nick.mayhew@alembicstrategy.com Hard Work Ahead As a leader, you probably have big changes ahead of you this year. Here are some tips [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Mar 18, 2018 [![Making Compound Growth Personal](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_WaJpTWFFxwpuYSNOsAcsvw.jpeg?width=142&name=1_WaJpTWFFxwpuYSNOsAcsvw.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/making-compound-growth-personal-a43a07a48acf) ## [Making Compound Growth Personal](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/making-compound-growth-personal-a43a07a48acf) There’s nothing like a bit of compounding. A 10% return re-invested and repeated for a few years really starts to mount up! Now imagine those returns [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Sep 3, 2017 [![Hard Work is a Winning Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_1MEG66lNkwRIOhVeJV6llA.jpeg?width=142&name=1_1MEG66lNkwRIOhVeJV6llA.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/hard-work-is-a-winning-strategy-5420cfae1072) ## [Hard Work is a Winning Strategy](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/hard-work-is-a-winning-strategy-5420cfae1072) But you will need to be ready to sweat to succeed These days extolling the virtues of simple hard work is pretty unfashionable. However, [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) [Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Founder and managing director of Alembic Strategy Ltd, a growth consultancy focussed on strategy, leadership, M&A, coaching and change. [![Nicholas Mayhew](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Nick%20May%202019-1.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/nicholas-mayhew) Jun 2, 2017 [![Who’s in the Driving Seat of Your Attention and Communication?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_vxxJ7ZBynl3J5GBMQOspgw.jpeg?width=142&name=1_vxxJ7ZBynl3J5GBMQOspgw.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/whos-in-the-driving-seat-of-your-attention-and-communication-b14b99213985) ## [Who’s in the Driving Seat of Your Attention and Communication?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/whos-in-the-driving-seat-of-your-attention-and-communication-b14b99213985) In the workplace you used to measure how free you were to focus on the situation at hand in the obvious sense of time in the diary. You then demanded [![Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_vW3sd-msFj7GCwORRY9Opw.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [![Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_vW3sd-msFj7GCwORRY9Opw.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [![Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_vW3sd-msFj7GCwORRY9Opw.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) Feb 11, 2017 [![Trust](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_BOIGIy2lp2IkDkmo_NL6og.jpeg?width=142&name=1_BOIGIy2lp2IkDkmo_NL6og.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/trusttrust-e796512a65b) ## [Trust](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/trusttrust-e796512a65b) The effective compass. If you think about it, trust is the currency of life. It needs to be the currency of business for visions of success to be [![Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_vW3sd-msFj7GCwORRY9Opw.jpeg) ](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [![Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_vW3sd-msFj7GCwORRY9Opw.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) [![Annie Armit](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hubfs/Alembic_Strategy_September2018%20Theme/Images/1_vW3sd-msFj7GCwORRY9Opw.jpeg)](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/author/annie-armit) Jan 16, 2017 [Previous](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/tag/founder-led/page/1) [All posts](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/strategic-thinking/all) ### ELSEWHERE - [mailto:info@alembicstrategy.com](mailto:info@alembicstrategy.com) - - ### Links [Why Alembic?](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/why-alembic) [Resources](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/resources) [People](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/our-people) [Contact Us](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/contact-us) ### Connect ### Our Partners [![FBU Logo](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FBU%20Logo-RED-01.png?width=596&name=FBU%20Logo-RED-01.png "FBU Logo")](https://www.familybusinessunited.com/) [![Mindshop Logo](https://www.alembicstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%2017.03.08-1.png?width=3196&name=Screenshot%202023-07-03%20at%2017.03.08-1.png "Mindshop Logo")](https://web.mindshop.com/) ### Site credentials Copyright © Alembic Strategy Ltd. 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