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The paradox of strategy

2013-01-08

Thinking strategically is paradoxical by nature.

To be able to think about something strategically we need to think through both the simple and the complex elements. This is the best way to look into the future.

But strategy is more than just thinking about the future. We also need to communicate and act (walk out the door) to move us towards our desired future.

Enter paradox. The future, as we know is complex. There is much uncertainty and many things to consider. We cannot ignore the complexity. Rather we need to distill it down to something simple that we and others can understand while not missing key elements.

A good strategist tells a simple story which is abstracted from the complexity that lies beneath.

Like the diagram which paradoxically shows ascending and descending, good strategy shows both the simple and complex.

Ascending and descending paradox

Image source: http://bit.ly/ZmFeaE