6 Ways to Make Strategy Resonate with Skeptical Leaders.

The article focuses on how to make strategy resonate with skeptical CEOs and senior leaders who often view it as a distraction rather than an advantage. It identifies common myths that dilute strategy—such as the belief that strategy detracts from delivery, that long-standing alignment negates the need for explicit strategy, and that crises can be handled ad hoc—and introduces the concept of a “strategy deficit,” where strategy exists informally but is not clearly communicated or applied beyond the senior team. The author proposes six practical actions to bridge this gap, including defining strategy as a set of guiding choices, starting with real decisions the team faces, clarifying trade-offs, using AI to synthesize existing materials, and testing strategy under pressure. These steps aim to create clarity and consistency in decision-making across the organization, helping strategy be seen as a source of advantage rather than bureaucracy.