Our main competitor just launched an AI-powered service that cuts their delivery time in half, and our sales team is starting to panic. How do we use the IDS® process during our next Weekly Level 10 Meeting™ to address this threat without making a reactionary pivot that derails our 1-Year Plan?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Panic is the enemy of strategy. When a competitor launches a fast AI-powered service, your sales team will naturally sound the alarm. Your immediate move is to bring this issue to your weekly Level 10 Meeting and use the IDS process. Identify the real threat. Is the competitor actually delivering superior value, or are they simply marketing an automated gimmick? Do not make a reactionary strategic pivot that derails your current 1-Year Plan or your quarterly Rocks. Use your leadership team to analyze the competitor's offering objectively. In most cases, rapid AI automation leads to a drop in quality and a lack of human connection. Use this competitive threat to clarify your own marketing strategy on the V/TO. If your competitor is going low-cost and automated, it may be the perfect opportunity for you to double down on your high-value, high-touch relationships. If you do need to respond with your own AI initiative, do not rush a half-baked tool to market. Instead, create a specific, well-defined Rock for the upcoming quarter to build a superior, tested alternative. This keeps your day-to-day operations focused, maintains your team's alignment, and ensures you make strategic decisions based on data rather than fear.