Reflections 31st July

On my Mind

The Nature of "Strategy"

We are in a time when we will hear the word "strategy" inserted into pronouncements by those who try to convince us they have a plan. That they alone can guide us out of the situation we find ourselves in when they know, as we do, that in current reality, it's nonsense.

Not entirely. Long-term strategy - views over decades - remains vital. The Iroquois would not take any serious decision without debating the effect it might have seven generations into the future. 

Our take on strategy of the "return on investment" variety has always been questionable. Great sales tools for the gullible, but mostly of little practical use.

"Strategy" is one of those words that got lost in the last few decades and found itself in very unfamiliar surroundings. Its roots lie in the realm of military command - stratos "multitude, army, expedition, encamped army." As leadership training sought to treat business as war, it found itself carried along as baggage. It gets added to…