10 Strategy Articles You Can Use Now

Most “strategy” talks feel heavy.

You leave with a thick file, big words, and confused people.

These 10 short guides are different.

They’re written for leaders who want clear choices, simple language, and work that actually changes.

Read any one. Or follow them in order for a full path:

Decide the game → Turn it into work → Keep it alive.

If you’re not sure where to start:
Start with #1 if you’re confused about strategy vs plan.
Start with #5 if your managers keep asking, “So what do we do?”
Start with #9 if you feel something is off, but can’t name it.

Share these with your ExCom or department heads before your next planning session.

1. Strategy First, Plan Second. Most leaders mix up strategy and plan. This guide shows the difference in plain English: strategy decides the game, the plan organizes the work. Read this if you want your “plan” to finally mean something.

2. Why Your Team Has Many Plans but Little Focus. Your people are busy, but nothing big moves. This is for you if you have too many goals and not enough wins. You’ll see why saying “yes” to many things kills focus—and how a few strong “yes” and brave “no” can change that.

3. How to Ask Better Strategy Questions in Meetings. Tired of meetings full of “updates” and no real decisions? This guide shows you how to switch from soft questions like “Any comments?” to sharp questions like “How does this help us win?” Small change in questions, big change in thinking.

4. 5 Strategy Questions for Leaders Who Play to Win. I’ve read many strategy books. These five questions cut through the noise. Use them to answer, in simple words: What does winning mean for us? Where will we play? How will we win? Perfect if you want a clear shared picture, not more buzzwords.

5. Turning Strategy Into a Game Plan Your Managers Understand. Your top team may “get it,” but managers still ask, “So what do we do?” This guide helps you turn big ideas into a small set of plays they can run. Helpful if you want less theory and more “Here’s our play this year.”

6. How to Stop Doing Work That Does Not Fit Your Strategy. People work hard from 8 to 5 doing the same old things. You know some of that work no longer helps you win. This article shows you how to spot work that doesn’t fit—and how to stop or change it without disrespecting people.

7. Building a Strategy Rhythm That Actually Works. Strategy is not a 12-month script you must obey. Things change. Markets move. People learn. Here you’ll learn how to set a simple rhythm (usually every quarter) to ask: “Is this still the right game?” and “What do we change next?”

8. How to Talk About Strategy With Frontline Staff. Your staff know their tasks. Many don’t know the game. This guide shows you how to explain strategy in one clear sentence they can repeat—and how to link that to their daily work. Perfect if you want people on the ground to say, “Now I see how I help us win.”

9.Fixing a Broken Strategy: Where Do You Start? You’re busy. Numbers are okay, but it doesn’t feel like winning. This guide helps you look at four spots: Are we clear? Are we focused? Is our work aligned? Do we have a rhythm? Good if you feel, “Something is off, but I can’t name it.”

10. Strategy, Culture, and Customer Experience: One Story Underwater Set in a dive resort with 115 staff. You’ll see how three things are really one story: strategy (the game you choose), culture (how your people act), customer experience (what guests feel and say). This is a gentle but deep reflection piece—great if you care about people and repeat customers.