Kevin Ertell explains how this mindset creates the most dangerous situation leaders can place their teams in, and why real strategy execution demands space, clarity, and intention. When leaders fall into The Strategy Trap, they don’t just slow progress. They risk everything by forcing teams to operate in chaos.
This clip shows why strong leadership matters, why strategy execution matters, and why avoiding The Strategy Trap is essential for every retail leader. If you’ve ever been told to “just make it work,” this story will hit home. And if you care about building teams that thrive instead of scramble, you’ll want to hear Kevin Ertell’s take on what great leaders do differently.
If you’re leading teams through digital transformation, this is your signal to avoid the “build the plane while flying it” mindset. Watch the complete episode for more leadership insights!* https://youtu.be/35Szlax-6CA
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from *The Retail Razor: Retail Transformers* #podcast
*S2:E2 Your Retail Strategy Will Fail Unless You Fix This (Kevin Ertell Interview)*
*Released on February 12, 2026*
*Chapters*
00:00 Why “Build the Plane While Flying It” Is a Terrible Mindset
00:18 The Real Meaning: Putting Teams in Danger
00:28 The Better Approach: Carve Out Space to Build Safely
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