What is ‘strategy’? Ask ten executives and you’re likely to get ten different answers. In business, strategy has many fathers, but it’s only result is winning at the game you’re playing. For many years, I viewed strategy as the ‘how’ component behind achieving our goals – and my theory has always combined minimal strategy, 2-3 per goal, with a plan for implementation that has child like clarity. As leaders and entrepreneurs, understanding strategy tops our learning agenda, and for most of us, that learning starts with observing those we most admire.
When Roger Martin collaborated with Procter & Gamble’s A.G. Lafley to write, Playing To Win, they not only uncovered how strategy really works, more importantly, they gave you a thinking framework that integrates the essential components of your business. In my conversation with Roger, he guides you through the choices you have to make as you answer the five fundamental strategy questions – it always starts with defining your winning aspiration – – –