The Field of the Strategist (I) [PODCAST S2 E6]

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.

The Vicissitudes of the Field

The field of the strategist is like the sea on which the business is a mere ship. Sometimes the sea is calm, but at other times it can become violent and dangerous. A good game plan helps you navigate the ship irrespective of the sea conditions. In the same way, a great business strategy should work even when the field changes over time. If you ignore the vicissitudes of the field,  your strategy will have some serious limitations.  It will function efficiently only a limited set of conditions.

Modeling the Field

In this episode, I conceptualize the field of the strategist using a model of a dart board. Concentric circles on the board represent the various levels of the field. I have found this to be a useful model to understand the field which otherwise is not only multidimensional but also rich in its complexity on each dimension.

The field of the strategist is also like a board on which the game of business takes place. In this episode, you also understand the relationship between the strategist and the field.

Key Takeaways

The key takeaways from this episode are as follows:

1. What is the field of the strategist?
2. How does the strategist view the field?
3. Some examples of forces in the field affecting businesses and strategies of companies.
4. How to break down the field into its component forces?
5. A deeper understanding of two critical forces in the field.

How to Listen?

This audio is now available as a part of a complete online strategy program called Becoming a Strategist. You can listen to it in the course here