Enactive Strategy

How to become a strategic leader by doing LESS: Stop trying to do more each day. Instead, focus on 2-3 impactful actions each week. Want to know how? On Wednesday, I shared a lightning lesson on how to be seen as a strategic leader. The key points: — Why strategic behavior is more important than just strategic thinking — How to build an opportunity flywheel to create momentum in your career — The 5 pillars of strategic leadership (this is key to long-term success) — How to navigate obstacles that block your path to leadership — How to shift your mindset and start leading with more intention It was 33 minutes of pure strategy, and it was FREE. You can access it here: https://lnkd.in/gxyYeRB8 The key lesson here? To rise in your career, stop trying to do everything. Focus on strategic behaviors that change how people perceive you. Work smarter and show people your strategic abilities. When you do this: — You’ll start being seen as someone who is strategic — You’ll start getting more recognition for the value you bring — You’ll be seen as someone who leads with clarity and purpose — You’ll open doors to leadership roles and bigger opportunities without burnout Shift from overdoing to strategic doing. And watch your career take off.

I was trained in the classic schools of strategy, where data was king. I thrived in a world of rigorous analysis, abstract models, and structural advantages—perfect for an engineer like me. But here’s the problem: strategy alone leads nowhere. I saw it firsthand—brilliant strategy that failed because it overlooked the most crucial elements: people and their behaviors. That’s when I realized something fundamental. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫; 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭. Here’s how I shifted from abstract models to people-centered strategy: 💚 I transitioned from seeing people as abstract resources to understanding them as the core of every successful strategy. 💚I began seeing strategy as a way to shape human behavior. 💚I learned to integrate data with the complexities of human dynamics—creating strategy that transforms behavior and leads to real, measurable results. In short, I put people first. This isn’t just theory—it’s the approach that transformed my career and brought real-world success to businesses. 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬. PS: What’s one area where you think strategy should better serve people? --------- I'm Alex Nesbitt. Thanks for reading and contributing your thoughts on this. --------- 💡 PS, If you like this way of thinking, 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 on Strategic Thinking for Advantage. Secure a seat while you can: https://lnkd.in/gBKKe9BK

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Some say that strategy is not that important. They say it's all about the execution. But IMHO, strategy doesn't end with your plan. It's a continuous process that helps you realize your goals. Great strategists are like great gardeners. They know they need a good design but never expect it to predict the future perfectly. Great strategic thinkers work with a design in mind, but they are always looking for new information and insights that make the design even better. They are constantly learning and adapting to the environment and the actual unfolding of the plan. They work their strategy as they execute it. They take advantage of the affordances offered to them, incorporating new information and shedding bad design as they go. Your plan is like a gardener's design plan. You use the best design you have for the situation at hand. And you should always be ready and willing to build a better one as reality unfolds. Agree? ---------- 👉 Follow me to Activate your Strategic Mind P.S. If you like this way of thinking, check out my masterclass on 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞. Seats limited - https://lnkd.in/gCDcZ5we.

Every winning strategy begins with choice. The "Play to Win" strategy framework provides a map for the five critical strategic choices you need to make in your business. Leaders: Build a strategy that serves your people. Be decisive. Make these 5 choices: 1) 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Defining what winning means. Is it about being a leader in your market, or perhaps it's about achieving unmatched customer satisfaction? Define what success looks like and ensure it aligns with your company's core values and vision. 2) 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲: This is your playing field. Deciding 'where to play' is about choosing the markets or customer segments where your organization can not just compete but dominate. 3) 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧: How will you outmaneuver the competition? Perhaps through cutting-edge innovation, being the cost leader, or offering an unrivaled customer experience. Find your advantage and make it compelling. Translate that into the specific behaviors needed to succeed. 4) 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Even the best strategies crumble without the right tools. What capabilities does your organization need to win? It might be proprietary data, a supply chain that runs like clockwork, or a sales team that turns clients into evangelists. 5) 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬: Last but not least, the hard and 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 infrastructure that supports your strategy is crucial. These are the conditions, processes and structures you need, like performance management systems or an adaptive and learning-oriented culture, ensuring that your strategy isn't just a one-hit wonder but a legacy in the making. Remember, the strategic choices you make dictate the future you create. Want a PDF version? Comment "choice" and I'll send you a link for the PDF. _______ #strategy #planning 👉 Follow me to Activate your Strategic Mind 🔔 Make sure to RING the BELL to get every post. P.S. If you like this way of thinking, check out my masterclass on 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞. Link in the featured section of my profile. 🚀🎯

7 game-changing lessons I wish I knew before I founded a company. 1/ Great strategy massively improves your odds of success ↳ The purpose of all strategy is to create advantage. ↳ Apply it: Always ask yourself, "What matters the most? How can I increase my likelihood of success?" Use this as a filter for your strategic choices. 2/ Execution without high-quality strategy is not hard, it is impossible ↳ High quality strategy must come first. ↳ Apply it: Before diving into tasks, ensure that your strategy is well-structured to answer the questions people need to make decisions without you. It will save you from the frustration of constant course corrections. 3/ Complex systems that work start as simple systems that work ↳ Overcomplicating your approach from the start is a recipe for failure. ↳ Apply it: Start small and iterate. Focus on creating a simple, effective system, then build complexity as needed. 4/ Strategy requires clear choices about what to do and what not to do ↳ Saying "no" to certain options is as important as saying "yes" to others. ↳ Apply it: Be ruthless in prioritizing. Clearly define what you won’t do, and stick to it. 5/ Leadership is about creating condistions for success, not contolling action. ↳ Shift from commanding to creating conditions where desirable behaviors naturally emerge. ↳ Apply it: Instead of micromanaging, set the stage for success by fostering an environment that encourages autonomy and alignment with the overall vision. 6/ Generate advantage in both the journey and destination ↳ Strategy should be designed to provide benefits now and secure a competitive position for the future. ↳ Apply it: Evaluate your strategies by asking whether they improve your current situation and set you up for future success. Make your strategy do both. 7/ Overloading the organization leads to gridlock. ↳ Too much work will paralyze progress, causing chaos rather than productivity. ↳ Apply it: Be radical in your prioritization. Decide your top priority. Do that until it's done. Everything else can wait. There's more to know, but these lessons keep rising up over and over again in my work with CEOs - learn them. Use them. What key lesson do you think is missing? --------------- ♻ Repost to promote better leadership. And follow me, Alex Nesbitt, for more.

Use these 12 traits to be more strategic and turbocharge your leadership. 1) Enactive Mindset: Prompt the right behaviors by inspiring rather than directing. 2) Visionary Thinking: Leverage foresight, see the big picture, and chart a clear path to the future. 3) Decisiveness: Make swift, informed decisions to keep momentum going. 4) Adaptability: Pivot quickly in response to change and new opportunities. 5) Communication Skills: Clearly convey vision and strategy, ensuring everyone understands what to do and how to do it. 6) Critical Thinking: Analyze complex situations and craft innovative solutions. 7) Emotional Intelligence: Connect with and motivate your team and lead with empathy. 8) Resilience: Bounce back from setbacks and keep pushing forward. 9) Collaboration: Fosters teamwork and values diverse perspectives. 10) Connect Strategy with Execution: Balance vision with action and get things done. 11) Create Conditions for Success: Set up the environment and resources that allow teams to thrive and achieve goals. 12) Commit to Continuous Learning: Stay informed and constantly refine strategies to stay ahead Embrace these traits and be the leader your business needs you to be. ------------- What other traits would you add to this list? ♻ Repost to promote better leadership. And follow me, Alex Nesbitt, for more.

We've been taught that showing emotions is a sign of weakness. It's time to rethink that. For years, the corporate world has pushed the idea of emotional detachment, convincing us that emotions are distractions or signs of weakness. We've been taught that "strategy needs to be data-driven," implying that emotions have no place in decision-making. But the truth is, emotions aren't distractions or signs of softness. Emotions are the essence of our experiences, the colors that bring our world to life. Even data is interpreted through the lens of our emotions. Asking someone to ignore their emotions is like asking them to see the world in black and white, stripping away what makes us human and vibrant. Enactive leaders don’t shy away from emotions; they embrace them. They understand the power of emotions to motivate and inspire. Emotions aren't flaws—they're strengths. They are energy in motion. It's time for leaders to stop fearing emotions and start using them wisely. Build your emotional intelligence. Learn to harness that energy for greater good. I built this simple chart to share some of my ideas on how to build your emotional intelligence. What's missing from my chart below? ___ Until next time, be enactive. Be someone who happens to the world. Repost ♻️ to promote emotional intelligence. Follow me for more content like this.

Overcome one challenge, get ready for the next—strategy never stops. --------- 👉 Follow me to Activate your Strategic Mind P.S. If you like this way of thinking, check out my masterclass on 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞. Link in the featured section of my profile.

Are you the strategic leader your business needs you to be? Strategic leaders empower people with strategy. Imagine leading an organization where your team doesn’t wait for approval—they take action with confidence. That’s the power of a permissionless organization. And that starts with strategy. When your strategy is clear, your team can take action without constantly seeking permission. Empower your people. Serve them with enactive strategy. --------- ♻️ Repost to promote better strategy. PS. If you want to activate your strategic mind, check out my profile.