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Strategic Intent and Core Competency Development: Winning with Purpose
In business, dreaming big isn’t just a motivational poster — it’s a competitive strategy. Some of the most successful companies in the world didn’t wait to be ready before declaring ambitious goals. Instead, they aimed high, aligned their people, and then figured out how to get there. This is the essence of strategic intent, and it’s fueled by an engine called core competencies.
What is Strategic Intent?
Strategic intent is the single-minded obsession with winning, even when current capabilities don’t yet match the goal. The term was introduced by Gary Hamel and C.K. Prahalad, who observed that industry leaders like Canon, Honda, and CNN succeeded not by inching forward but by thinking 10 steps ahead.
It’s not just about a mission statement — strategic intent is a long-term, emotionally engaging rally cry that:
- Focuses on the essence of winning
- Remains stable over time
- Encourages individual contributions
- Evolves operationally without changing the destination
Think of it like planning to summit Everest … before you’ve learned to hike. Bold? Yes. Strategic? Also yes.
