Why This Matters

A strong direction is not enough. It must also be sustainable, supported, and trusted.

This step checks whether the posture you have chosen is actually doable, whether the workforce can carry it, and whether the right people will travel with it.

Part 1: Capability reality check

Capability check

A posture is only useful if it can be sustained.

Capability may include:

• Financial resilience.
• Leadership depth.
• Governance clarity.
• Operational systems.
• Cultural alignment.
• Relational strength.

Sustainability check

If this posture is not currently sustainable, return to Step 3 and make further trade-offs about what must stop, reduce, or defer.

Sustainability is often created through subtraction, not effort alone.

Part 2: Workforce implications

Workforce Note

Workforce capability is critical to sustaining strategic direction.

If gaps relate to leadership capacity, team structure, or skills depth, consider whether the Workforce & People Sprint is needed.

Ask:

• Do we have the right people to carry this posture?
• Do we have enough depth, not just goodwill?
• Are our roles and structures fit for the direction?

Part 3: Stakeholder legitimacy

Capability alone does not sustain direction.

Strategic posture must also retain the confidence of the people who enable, fund, govern, or are affected by it.

Ask:

• Whose support is required for this posture to hold?
• Who carries risk if this fails?
• Who must be engaged early rather than informed later?

Return to Step 1 when considering stakeholder relationships and Te Tiriti responsibilities.

Part 4: Summary and reset

Summary

Reset check

If the chosen posture is not sustainable or legitimate, revisit Step 3 and make further trade-offs.

If the direction can be carried, supported, and trusted, move on.

Step 4 outcome

By the end of this step, you should know:

• what capability is already in place,
• what must still be built,
• what workforce implications matter,
• and who needs to stay aligned for the posture to hold.

This becomes the bridge to Step 5.