What Makes A Great Strategy – And How To Spot a Weak One.
Last week, I unpacked the role of strategy in business – what it is, why it matters, and how it’s different from a goal, a plan, or a set of tactics.
This week, we go one level deeper – because while every business has a strategy (even if they don’t know it), not every business has a good one.
A strategy doesn’t need to be 100% right or perfect. They rarely are at first. But it does need to be clear, relevant, and strong enough to move you forward.
Too often, business owners either don’t think about strategy at all, or they think it has to be clever. It doesn’t. A great strategy isn’t just smart – it’s useful. It gives direction, creates focus, and makes tough choices easier.
The problem I see is that most people don’t really know what a strategy is – or what separates a good one from a great one, or a good one from a bad one.
Let’s get clear on that now.
What Makes a Strategy Good?
A good strategy usually has three things going for it:
- Clarity – It clearly says what you’re going to do and why it matters.
- Relevance – It solves a real problem, maximises an opportunity, or helps you achieve a meaningful goal.
- Leverage – It creates a shift. It gives you direction and momentum.
A good strategy creates clarity. A great one creates momentum.
What Makes a Strategy Great?
A great strategy goes a step further. It’s not just clear, relevant and useful – it has depth. It’s chosen for a reason. It’s not a pet idea. It’s a smart call – made with logic, not emotion. And it stands up to scrutiny.
Here’s what to look for ⬇️
Trade-Offs:
It was chosen after scanning the landscape, clarifying and evaluating the options, deciding what not to do, and then what to pursue. It means being willing to say no to many things so you can say yes to one.
Focus:
A great strategy is purpose-built. It doesn’t try to solve or achieve everything. It picks a single point of focus – a problem, goal or ambition – and sticks to it.
Commitment:
A weak strategy is easily cast aside when a new idea arises. That’s not strategy – it’s hesitation. A strong strategy deserves to be backed. If you’re not sure, don’t force it. Dig deeper. Once you land on your strategy – move. Clarify. Decide. Commit. Act.
Flexibility:
Great strategies allow for learning, adaptation, and course correction, if that’s what’s needed. They’re built on insight, and adaptability – not rigidity.
How to Spot a Weak Strategy
You’ll know a strategy is weak if it:
✖️ Sounds like a wish or a vague hope.
✖️ Has no clear link to a specific goal, problem or shift.
✖️ Lacks any real edge or advantage and offers no leverage.
✖️ Is so generic it could apply to almost any business.
✖️ Gets replaced the moment something new shows up.
Weak strategies often confuse vision with strategy or goals with action. Just saying what you want to achieve isn’t the same as making something happen. They’re very different.
Five Questions to Test Your Strategy
Ask yourself:
- What’s the problem our strategy will solve
- What were the options – and why did we choose this one?
- Can our strategy be explained in one sentence?
- What will this strategy help us fix, unlock, move or create?
- Will this decision make other decisions easier?
Final Thought
Strategy is about progress – not perfection. It’s less about having the right answers, and more about asking better questions. It’s a process, not an event.
A great strategy doesn’t live in a document – it lives in your decisions and actions.
It shows up in what you say yes to – and what you say no to. It shapes your focus – how you spend your time, money, and energy. It builds alignment, and often leads to breakthroughs.
That’s how a great strategy builds a great business – not just a good one.
What’s your strategy? Is it working? Is it a good one or a great one?
If you’d like help clarifying, refining, or pressure-testing your strategy or are interested in a ‘Strategic Reset’ check out this link: https://betterbusinessacademy.com/strategic-reset/.
Or keep a look out for next week’s article on: “Why A Fast Strategy Can Be a Big Risk.”
All the best,
Geoff
