Becoming A Strategist – An Audio Guide

Episode 1

The Essence of a strategist

What does a strategist do? What skills are needed to become a strategist and how can you become one? These are the questions we discuss in this episode of this podcast. It also brings an exciting story of a successful strategist in action.

Episode 2

Flawed Thinking Methods That Hold You Back

Research over the last 40 years has shown that humans are prone to many thinking traps. These traps make us flawed decision makers. This thinking is the biggest barriers for you to become a strategic thinker.

In this episode, we will understand some of these traps.

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Episode 3

Becoming a Strategic Thinker

How do you become a strategic thinker?

In our latest podcast, I share a four-step process to help you become a more effective strategic thinker.

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Episode 4

Attacking Problems Like a Strategist

In this episode, we go to the heart of the method used by strategic thinkers. Strategists use this method to identify significant levers around a core issue of a situation.

Episode 5

The Goals of the Strategist

This episode of the podcast explores the goals of the strategist. As the goals we set for ourselves make an immense difference in the output we produce, it is critical to understand the aims of the strategist. A deeper understanding of these goals can help you become a  better strategist.

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Episode 6

The Field of the Strategist (I)

This episode of the podcast explores the field of the strategist. It is the broader business context with powerful forces that affect the business. These forces can be so powerful to render many strategies useless. When a strategy is aligned with the field, it becomes powerful.

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Episode 7

The Field of the Strategist (II)

This episode of the podcast further explores the field of the strategist. Continuing our exploration into the field’s outermost circle, we discuss four major forces in the field.

Episode 8

Searching for Opportunities Like a Strategist

This episode reveals the five forces that determine how profitable an industry will be. This concept is a dominant concept in strategy area that all business school students know. It is a critical concept not to be missed by anyone.

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Episode 9

Competing Like a Strategist

Competition is a major force in the field of the strategist. It can render effective strategies ineffective over time. It sometimes makes you run faster to just stay in one place. This episode provides an opportunity to understand what is involved in competing like a strategist.

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Episode 10

A Key Weapon of the Strategist: Organizational Capabilities

No strategy is possible without the right organizational capabilities. In absence of the right capabilities, a strategy is just a pipe dream. Learn about organizational capabilities and how they help strategy.

Episode 11

Competitive Advantage: The Holy Grail of the Strategist

The single most important for a strategist is to build a sustained competitive advantage for the business. Without such an advantage the business finds it hard to survive. With a sustained competitive advantage, a business not only survives but also generates superior financial returns. This episode explains the sources of competitive advantage and how to build such an advantage for your firm.

Episode 12

The Strategy Process (Season Finale!)

The strategy process is a critical part of a firm’s strategy cycle. It is also one of the three key resources and capabilities that an effective strategist needs to be successful. In this last episode of the season “Becoming a Strategist” we discuss the strategy process. We go into details of many aspects of strategy design and execution process and explain how to make your strategy process more effective?