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Strategies evolve in action
No one starts with a perfect strategy. That’s just not how it works.
You set a few goals, spot the obvious roadblocks and take your first steps. How about the rest you might ask? You figure it out along the way. Just keep an eye on the market and overall trends and adjust your strategy as needed. And yeah, unexpected problems will pop up. That’s normal though. They aren’t failures - just part of the process. Every setback teaches you something.
A plan points you in the right direction, but real clarity comes from doing the work. The teams that adapt, adjust, and keep moving - especially when things feel uncertain - are the ones that make real progress.
So don’t wait for the “perfect” plan. Just start. You’ll get there.
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Clarity Over Complexity
A strategy isn’t about looking smart. It’s about making sure everyone understands it.
Clarity beats complexity in any organisation. A strategy packed with jargon or overblown ideas creates confusion, not action. The goal is alignment - getting everyone moving in the same direction with confidence.
Simple, clear strategies win because they get executed. -
Agility Without Strategy Is Just Noise
The word "agility" has lost its meaning.
The word itself went on a journey from being cool to becoming a buzzword. Teams seem to avoid using the word "agile" because it's no longer considered cool.
The reason for this is that quite often, agility is used as a way to mimic strategy.
It becomes a way to justify changes in direction - simply because you're agile.
The underlying problem, however, is the lack of strategy driving that movement.
Strategy is like a map. With broad strokes, you can outline your obstacles - the mountains, so to speak - that you need to navigate to reach your destination, your vision.
Interestingly, anything close by might appear foggy. You can’t see it clearly but you can see the destination.
Sometimes, as you move forward, you encounter obstacles you didn’t foresee, things that were hidden. It could be something small, like a lake. So you pause, check out the lake and consider the best way to handle it.
That’s your agility - helping you navigate these small obstacles and unforeseen challenges without losing sight of the destination.
Is Agile dead?
The word might be dead but businesses that succeed combine an explicit strategy with a willingness to adapt. These businesses will move much faster than those relying solely on strategy or agility. You need both to succeed. -
Confusion Kills Strategy
A strategy document should guide, not confuse.
The purpose of strategy is to align and direct an organisation toward shared goals. When it's overly complicated, it fails its primary mission. Strategy should be simple, clear and actionable.
As a product manager, your role is to create alignment. Work with your team and stakeholders to ensure clarity. If the strategy you're handed is unclear, don't sit with confusion. Simplify it. -
A successful product balances execution and vision. As Melissa Perri highlights, it’s not just about delivering but steering in the right direction. Markets shift. Challenges arise. Opportunities emerge. Pivoting with purpose defines lasting success.
A good company strategy should be made up of two parts: the operational framework, or how to keep the day-to-day activities of a company moving; and the strategic framework, or how the company realizes the vision through product and service development in the market.
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Strategy Narrative
Strategy is about inspiring others to take action. A helpful way to craft your strategy narrative is by breaking it into five elements: Reflection, Ambition, Jeopardy, Hope and Solution. This structure helps bring clarity. I learned this approach from Strategy Needs Good Words.
Reflection: Where We Are Today
Start by grounding the narrative in our current reality. This is about recognising where we stand - our strengths, weaknesses and the challenges we face. It gives us the context to understand why change is needed.
Ambition: The Tomorrow We Could Have
Paint a picture of the future we aspire to. This is the vision of success - what things could look like if we overcome today’s challenges. It’s designed to inspire and motivate, showing what’s possible and giving us a clear direction.
Jeopardy: The Challenge We Must Overcome
But here’s the thing: staying where we are isn’t an option. The challenges we’re facing are holding us back. While these obstacles can be overcome, they won’t disappear on their own. If we don’t take action, they’ll only grow, leaving us stuck in a cycle where potential is wasted and progress grinds to a halt.
Hope: The Insight That Gives Us a Way Through
What gives us confidence is this: we know what needs to be done. The path forward isn’t hidden - it’s clear. Our team has the skills and we’ve pinpointed the adjustments that can spark new momentum. It’s about building on what’s working, letting go of what isn't and committing to a sharper, more focused approach.
Solution: The Idea That Unlocks This
The solution is action. We need a clear plan - starting now - that tackles our sticking points directly. With a focused strategy and the determination to see it through, we can bridge the gap between where we are and where we want to be. That gap isn’t as wide as it seems and this is how we’ll close it. -
Agile Isn’t Chaos
Agility is misunderstood. True agility adapts to change without succumbing to chaos. It’s never about rushing decisions.
The best teams balance flexibility and structure. Agility thrives on collaboration, iterative progress and responsiveness - anchored by clear direction. Without this balance, chaos replaces speed and quality falls victim to a mirage of progress.
Agile isn’t a strategy. It’s how strategies breathe.
Agile vs Strategy
