Week 10

Strategy -It is the guiding light, the blueprint of a comprehensive campaign. It is not a series of random events seen in hindsight as uncoordinated and lacking synchronisation. A strategy is simply the bigger plan, that includes all the steps along the way to successful completion. It requires research, conscientious preparation with more than a little foresight. Strategies are also designed to limit future steps, to those that are strictly relevant to the task, goal oriented, 'on message' and an efficient use of time, money and energy.
A strategy is a simple concept, yet very few people are suited to formulating successful strategies in any endeavour. This is because anyone can come up with ideas, but ensuring that each one serves a specific, realistic achievable purpose only comes from extensive research, and only research that is very specific to the immediate task. Presumably the key is balance, from an awareness of what has worked in the past, combined with some imagination to suit novel problems [or even crises]. Finally, the rare quality is confidence and persuasiveness to get others committed, because again it is easy to plan and issue instructions, but how others respond really comes down to credibility.
What have I learned of strategies? Very little, except some seem born to hatch plans that cover every angle, and pick out just what will get the job done. Not easy.