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<\/a><\/p>\nAs a strategist, it\u2019s crucial to understand what strategy is all about. A great strategy<\/a> is the starting point of every strategy execution<\/a> journey. But besides knowing what strategy is all about, you also need to cultivate the right attitude towards strategy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve come across many strategists in my career. Some were bad. Most were average. Only a few were truly incredible.<\/p>\n The things that great strategists do on a day-to-day basis may not show up on the average radar. But for those who look carefully, they become visible.<\/p>\n Habits of a great strategist:<\/strong><\/p>\n How to become a strategist going beyond the traditional role of a strategist? Here\u2019s a list of things great strategists frequently do:<\/p>\n Good strategists formulate strategy using phrases like: \u201cWe want to outperform the market and have a ROCE at least 2 percent higher than the industry average in the next 5 years.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And while this phrase might perfectly capture the company\u2019s ambition, the truth is most people just don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n Great strategists go beyond PowerPoint presentations. They look for ways to make us care about the company strategy. They look for ways to turn an abstract idea into a concrete race that we all want to be part of.<\/p>\n Just think about John F. Kennedy who made an entire nation care about NASA\u2019s strategy by turning aeronautics into a race every American wanted to win: \u201cI believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Good strategists know that strategy success depends on our ability to stick to the choice we have made. Great strategists stand out because they dare to defend that choice and say NO. They stand out because they are willing to take an unpopular stand like sacrificing short-term results to create long-term value. They know that strategy is about choice and choosing to stick with your thinking. And, by their example, they inspire others to do the same.<\/p>\n When employees complain about the company strategy, they say things like \u201cThe strategy is not clear\u201d<\/em>, or \u201cOur organization doesn\u2019t have a strategy.\u201d<\/em> But the underlying point they want to make is \u201cI don\u2019t know what I can do to help\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n Bad strategists don\u2019t pay attention to this hidden message. If the strategy message is clear for them, they assume it\u2019s clear for everyone. Great strategists strive to get everyone on board the strategy ship. They will provide strategy information in a language people understand. A great strategist provides prioritization guidelines to align day-to-day choices with the big choice.<\/p>\n Every strategist knows that complexity creates opportunities in the outside world. Why else do you think there are a million different subscription options for your mobile? Great strategists also know that copying this complexity on the inside will make life for everyone a living hell. They know that you don\u2019t need a different department for each client segment you approach in the market. They know that internal complexity is the biggest performance killer.<\/p>\n\n
A great strategist makes us care<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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A great strategist keeps us focused<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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A great strategist facilitates our decision process<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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A great strategist\u00a0simplifies our lives<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n