Why Great Leaders Pivot

Navigating AI Innovation with Strategy and Speed

Image credit: Author + AI

While the adage "Winners never quit, and quitters never win" is well-known, this mindset may limit options for achieving optimal outcomes in the fast-paced world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Instead, I suggest

Winners know when to pivot and explore better options.

AI is no longer emerging—it's embedded. From professional tools like Microsoft 365 to everyday apps like Siri, AI is reshaping how we work and live. Industries are shifting. Competitors are advancing. Markets are evolving at record speed.

The question isn’t if you’ll need to pivot—but when and how.

Why Pivoting Matters Even More Now

During my time leading innovation at PwC, I watched an ambitious international expansion stall in unexpected markets. Staying the course wasn’t an option. We had to pivot—reallocating resources to areas of growth while pausing in regions that couldn’t deliver returns.

That pivot protected our upside, limited exposure, and positioned us for long-term success.

Today, the need to pivot is even more urgent.

As of 2024, 72% of organizations worldwide have integrated AI into at least one business function, up from 55% just a year earlier.

The pace of adoption is accelerating, and so are the risks of falling behind. Business models are shifting overnight. Competitors are moving faster. Markets are evolving in real time.

In this environment, standing still isn’t neutral. It’s falling behind.

Pivoting isn’t quitting. It’s a strategic move designed to protect your trajectory and find the smartest path forward—especially in moments of rapid change like the one we’re in now with AI.

Why It's Hard to Pivot

Even when the signs are clear, pivoting isn't easy.

As Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler’s sunk cost fallacy explains, we become attached to the time, money, and energy we've already invested. This bias can keep leaders committed to strategies that no longer serve the business—simply because they’ve already invested so much.

The challenge is knowing when to step back, assess the reality, and make the call to shift—before falling behind.

How Do You Know It’s Time to Pivot?

The hardest part isn’t executing the pivot—it’s deciding when to make the move.

To support this decision, I use a strategic evaluation method that helps leaders assess the signals that suggest it’s time to shift.

🔒 Premium subscribers can unlock the full Five-Factor Pivot Framework—a practical tool I use with clients to assess when and where a pivot is necessary.

You'll also get a Leadership Discussion Guide to put it into action with your team.

The Bottom Line

AI is accelerating change across industries, and the companies that win will be led by those who know when—and how—to pivot.

Pivoting isn’t about abandoning your vision. It’s about protecting it.
It’s how modern leaders navigate uncertainty, reallocate resources, and stay ahead of shifting markets.

The hardest part is knowing when to move.
The smartest leaders are already asking the right questions.

Because today, being On Point isn’t a goal—it’s the standard.

Joselle

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