In my mind, the term strategic planning is such a misnomer.
Strategy and planning aren’t the same thing.
Planning is about mapping out specific actions and timelines, an exercise in controlling the future.
Strategy is about defining our direction. The constant in whatever lies ahead.
It’s not a step-by-step itinerary, it’s the compass that guides our decisions, no matter how the landscape shifts.
Your Strategy is not a Map
Maps provide a route from A to B. They work when you’re certain of the road ahead, know all the obstacles, and can predict the terrain.
But business isn’t like that - especially today.
Instead it’s full of detours, changing conditions, and opportunities that can’t be mapped out in advance.
Trying to create a map for this kind of environment is silly - at best it’s wishful thinking. At worst, it’s a waste of resources.
A map demands commitment to a particular path.
A strategy demands commitment to a particular direction.
Your Strategy is your Compass
A compass orients you in any terrain.
Strategy is the anchor that guides your decisions, even when the environment shifts.
It grounds us in the big picture, so that when we’re faced with unforeseen situations (and we will be), we all know how to respond in a way that's coordinated, focused and aligned with the unique way in which we want to bring value to the market.
Strategy is about empowering decisions
The focus of strategy shouldn’t be to deliver instructions, it should be to guide decisions.
When we stop fixating on a mapped-out path, we unlock the creativity and capability of the organisation to adapt to the circumstances in front of them.
We’re able to see new opportunities and make adjustments without abandoning our direction.
Be purposeful, not prescriptive.
Letting Go
The reality is that maps are static, they can never cover all the twists, turns, and challenges we’re inevitably going to face.
But a compass gives us a way to navigate the unknown without losing sight of where we’re going.
In the end, strategy isn’t about locking ourselves into a path. It’s about making decisions that keep us moving towards our purpose, regardless of the terrain.
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