Agile is everywhere and it’s lost its edge. What once symbolised adaptability now often signals chaos.

The problem isn’t the methodology itself. Agility is a framework for delivering results, not a replacement for thoughtful strategy. True agility allows teams to pivot efficiently when markets shift but only within the boundaries of a clear plan.

Without one, "agile" becomes an excuse for reactive, directionless decisions that waste resources and frustrate teams. Strategy grounds agility. It ensures flexibility serves a purpose, not a whim.

Agility thrives when paired with strategy. Let’s stop mistaking movement for progress.

Overthinking strategy is a red flag.

The best strategies are simple and feel obvious to the people executing them.

If you’re spending endless time trying to figure it out, you’re probably on the wrong track.

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.

Great decisions hinge on trade-offs. Success isn’t about doing everything - it’s about choosing what not to do. Feature prioritisation proves this.

• Apple dropped keyboards for the iPhone's sleek touchscreen, sparking a revolution.
• Tesla's Model 3 focused on affordability and range, skipping luxury extras to meet customer needs.
• Amazon sacrificed short-term profits for rapid delivery, reshaping e-commerce with convenience.

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.

The term "agile" gets thrown around so much that it’s often misunderstood. True agility means adapting quickly to market changes without causing major disruptions—not rushing into decisions without a plan.

Always remember: agility is a delivery method, not a strategy.

Agile vs Strategy