Stop calling it strategy. Most leaders are not doing strategy; they are managing a glorified to-do list.
In this episode of Reflect Forward, I sit down with Simon Severino, author of Strategy Sprints, TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, and CEO of Strategy Sprints, to talk about how to lead with clarity, focus, and speed. Simon helps leaders design an operating rhythm that turns lofty visions into measurable weekly wins, all without adding more meetings or complexity.
Simon has spent over two decades helping leaders enter markets, scale effectively, and remain competitive in uncertain times. His Strategy Sprints method replaces long planning cycles with focused 90-day sprints that keep teams learning, adapting, and moving fast. It is a system designed for real-life scenarios, where uncertainty is constant and leaders cannot afford to wait for perfect information.
Simon reminds us that strategy is not about being right; it is about learning fast. His Focus Card is a simple but powerful tool: one page for your strategy, one tab for weekly metrics. Every Monday, teams set their priorities. Every Friday, they review what is working and what is not. It is a rhythm that keeps everyone focused and aligned, turning strategy from theory into practice.
Simon also challenges leaders to build like Lego, not Duplo, modular, flexible, and fast to reconfigure. When markets shift, teams that move in small, adaptable units thrive. That mindset is not just tactical, it is cultural. It encourages curiosity, experimentation, and speed.
The beauty of Simon’s method is its simplicity. It does not add complexity; it removes it. The Strategy Sprint approach helps leaders focus on what matters, cut through noise, and lead teams that win through clarity and cadence.
My Takeaways
1. Plans list tasks. Strategy makes bets. Great leaders take responsibility for the assumptions they make.
2. Measure both cause and effect. Track the activities and the results they create.
3. Shorten your feedback loop. A Monday and Friday rhythm beats quarterly reviews every time.
4. Build modular. Smaller, faster systems are easier to adapt when the market shifts.
5. Seek truth, not validation. Try to invalidate your assumptions weekly. If they hold up, you are truly winning.
When I asked Simon what he wished leaders understood about strategy, he said:
“Do not try to prove you are right. Try to prove yourself wrong. If your assumptions survive, then you are winning.”
And if you want to bring more focus and agility to your team, try Simon’s Focus Card exercise. You might be surprised at how much clarity one page can bring.
Connect with Simon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonseverino/
https://www.facebook.com/simon.severino
https://x.com/simonseverino
https://www.strategysprints.com/
Connect with Kerry
Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let’s connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok!
Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward
Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/
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Stop calling it strategy. Most leaders are not doing strategy; they are managing a glorified to-do list.
In this episode of Reflect Forward, I sit down with Simon Severino, author of Strategy Sprints, TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, and CEO of Strategy Sprints, to talk about how to lead with clarity, focus, and speed. Simon helps leaders design an operating rhythm that turns lofty visions into measurable weekly wins, all without adding more meetings or complexity.
Simon has spent over two decades helping leaders enter markets, scale effectively, and remain competitive in uncertain times. His Strategy Sprints method replaces long planning cycles with focused 90-day sprints that keep teams learning, adapting, and moving fast. It is a system designed for real-life scenarios, where uncertainty is constant and leaders cannot afford to wait for perfect information.
Simon reminds us that strategy is not about being right; it is about learning fast. His Focus Card is a simple but powerful tool: one page for your strategy, one tab for weekly metrics. Every Monday, teams set their priorities. Every Friday, they review what is working and what is not. It is a rhythm that keeps everyone focused and aligned, turning strategy from theory into practice.
Simon also challenges leaders to build like Lego, not Duplo, modular, flexible, and fast to reconfigure. When markets shift, teams that move in small, adaptable units thrive. That mindset is not just tactical, it is cultural. It encourages curiosity, experimentation, and speed.
The beauty of Simon’s method is its simplicity. It does not add complexity; it removes it. The Strategy Sprint approach helps leaders focus on what matters, cut through noise, and lead teams that win through clarity and cadence.
My Takeaways
1. Plans list tasks. Strategy makes bets. Great leaders take responsibility for the assumptions they make.
2. Measure both cause and effect. Track the activities and the results they create.
3. Shorten your feedback loop. A Monday and Friday rhythm beats quarterly reviews every time.
4. Build modular. Smaller, faster systems are easier to adapt when the market shifts.
5. Seek truth, not validation. Try to invalidate your assumptions weekly. If they hold up, you are truly winning.
When I asked Simon what he wished leaders understood about strategy, he said:
“Do not try to prove you are right. Try to prove yourself wrong. If your assumptions survive, then you are winning.”
And if you want to bring more focus and agility to your team, try Simon’s Focus Card exercise. You might be surprised at how much clarity one page can bring.
Connect with Simon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonseverino/
https://www.facebook.com/simon.severino
https://x.com/simonseverino
https://www.strategysprints.com/
Connect with Kerry
Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let’s connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok!
Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward
Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/
To lead well, you must train your brain to lead. When your nervous system is calm, you think clearly, make better decisions, and build stronger relationships. When it is hijacked by stress or fear, even the most experienced leader can lose presence and perspective. In this episode, executive leadership coach Nataly Huff, founder of Inspire Forward, explores the neuroscience behind composure, emotional regulation, and the stories we tell ourselves when we are triggered.
We dive into what really happens during an amygdala hijack, why your prefrontal cortex becomes depleted, and how to use your body’s cues to regulate your nervous system in real time. Nataly shares science-based strategies to pause before reacting, leverage tools like box breathing and compartmentalization, and reframe inaccurate thoughts before they spiral into conflict. Together, we explore what it truly means to train your brain to lead, not by suppressing emotions but by understanding them.
If you have ever left a meeting thinking, “Why did I react like that,” this conversation gives you the self-awareness and practical tools to stay grounded, curious, and in control.
About Nataly
Nataly Huff is an executive leadership coach with 15 years of corporate experience. She blends neuroscience and emotional intelligence to help emerging executives elevate their leadership impact. Learn more and book a discovery call at inspireforward.com.
What we cover
• The brain’s happiness chemicals and how to leverage them for better performance
• Amygdala hijacks and how to recognize, interrupt, and reset
• Practical nervous system regulation through box breathing, 4 7 8, and sensory grounding
• Healthy compartmentalization: when to use it and when to unpack it
• The Think → Feel → Do framework and Byron Katie’s Four Questions for challenging
limiting stories
• Triggers, ownership, and radical honesty, and how to lead yourself first
• Why the goal is not perfection but a faster recovery loop
Key takeaways
1. Name it to tame it. Notice your physiological cues, label the amygdala hijack, and pause before reacting.
2. Breathe with structure. Try box breathing or 4 7 8 to bring your attention back to the present.
3. Compartmentalize with intention. Put it in a box now and plan when you will process it.
4. Interrupt the story. Ask, “Is it true? Can I know for sure,” before assuming the worst.
5. Progress over perfection. The more you train your brain to lead, the faster you recover and the stronger you show up.
Mic drop moments
• “There is no bear. It is just an email.”
• “Your prefrontal cortex cannot run on empty. Fuel it or you default to reaction.”
• “Compartmentalization is powerful if you open the box later.”
• “Honor the pattern before you release it. It helped you survive and succeed.”
• “Leadership is not the absence of triggers. It is ownership of your recovery.”
Resources mentioned
• Breathwork: box breathing, 4 7 8 breathing
• Frameworks: Think → Feel → Do, Byron Katie’s Four Questions
Connect with Nataly
Website: https://www.inspire-forward.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalyhuff
Instagram: @inspirefwdcoaching
Tik Tok: @https://www.tiktok.com/@inspirefwdcoaching
Book a Free Call: https://www.inspire-forward.com/book-a-free-call
Rewiring Your Leadership Brain https://www.inspire-forward.com/rewiring-your-leadership-brain
Connect with Kerry
Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let’s connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok!
Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward
Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/
Reflect Forward
Stop calling it strategy. Most leaders are not doing strategy; they are managing a glorified to-do list.
In this episode of Reflect Forward, I sit down with Simon Severino, author of Strategy Sprints, TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, and CEO of Strategy Sprints, to talk about how to lead with clarity, focus, and speed. Simon helps leaders design an operating rhythm that turns lofty visions into measurable weekly wins, all without adding more meetings or complexity.
Simon has spent over two decades helping leaders enter markets, scale effectively, and remain competitive in uncertain times. His Strategy Sprints method replaces long planning cycles with focused 90-day sprints that keep teams learning, adapting, and moving fast. It is a system designed for real-life scenarios, where uncertainty is constant and leaders cannot afford to wait for perfect information.
Simon reminds us that strategy is not about being right; it is about learning fast. His Focus Card is a simple but powerful tool: one page for your strategy, one tab for weekly metrics. Every Monday, teams set their priorities. Every Friday, they review what is working and what is not. It is a rhythm that keeps everyone focused and aligned, turning strategy from theory into practice.
Simon also challenges leaders to build like Lego, not Duplo, modular, flexible, and fast to reconfigure. When markets shift, teams that move in small, adaptable units thrive. That mindset is not just tactical, it is cultural. It encourages curiosity, experimentation, and speed.
The beauty of Simon’s method is its simplicity. It does not add complexity; it removes it. The Strategy Sprint approach helps leaders focus on what matters, cut through noise, and lead teams that win through clarity and cadence.
My Takeaways
1. Plans list tasks. Strategy makes bets. Great leaders take responsibility for the assumptions they make.
2. Measure both cause and effect. Track the activities and the results they create.
3. Shorten your feedback loop. A Monday and Friday rhythm beats quarterly reviews every time.
4. Build modular. Smaller, faster systems are easier to adapt when the market shifts.
5. Seek truth, not validation. Try to invalidate your assumptions weekly. If they hold up, you are truly winning.
When I asked Simon what he wished leaders understood about strategy, he said:
“Do not try to prove you are right. Try to prove yourself wrong. If your assumptions survive, then you are winning.”
And if you want to bring more focus and agility to your team, try Simon’s Focus Card exercise. You might be surprised at how much clarity one page can bring.
Connect with Simon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonseverino/
https://www.facebook.com/simon.severino
https://x.com/simonseverino
https://www.strategysprints.com/
Connect with Kerry
Visit my website, kerrysiggins.com, to explore my book, The Ownership Mindset, and get more leadership resources. Let’s connect on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok!
Find Reflect Forward on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerrysiggins-reflectforward
Find out more about my book here: https://kerrysiggins.com/the-ownership-mindset/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-siggins/
