A concise and clarifying definition of strategy is as follows:
“Strategy is the process of generating anticipatory ideas for actions aimed at achieving our objectives in accordance with our capabilities.”
Defining a strategy is an intellectual act — it’s like writing a novel but starting from the end, knowing that one day the story will take shape in reality. Building from the end to the beginning allows us to perfectly align the narrative pieces from Chapter I so that everything fits coherently.
Working with a strategic vision means:
- Knowing who you truly are
- Having the ability to observe the short term and the skill to foresee what will happen in the long run
- Identifying causes rather than symptoms
- Being clear about whom you’re competing against to achieve your goals
Strategy: A History, Lawrence Freedman, Preface p.15