The 4 Different Types of Vision & Strategy Execution for Leaders

The 4 Different Types of Vision & Strategy Execution for Leaders

1) Narrow and Shallow Strategy - These are the WORST type! They are not too dissimilar to the broad-and-shallow, but they lack the breadth of consideration. Narrow-and-shallow strategies are the ones that look like someone wrote it down on a napkin whilst trying to rush out the door. They lack the wide considerations that broad strategies have and as a result, are full of fluff.

2) Narrow but Deep Strategy - There’s nothing inherently wrong with a narrow-but-deep strategy. However, their detail can often give a false sense of confidence. Due to their narrow nature, external factors often blindsided narrow-but-deep strategies. Without investing the time to go broad and consider a wider range of influences, narrow strategies regularly come undone by external events.

3) Broad and Shallow Strategy - As you would correctly guess, these strategies that are high-level but have considered a wide range of aspects. An example of a broad-and-shallow strategy would be a company strategy that doesn’t go into depth on the ‘how’ too much. Broad-and-shallow strategies are the most effective in larger organizations that wish to create the space for agency and autonomy.

4) Broad and Deep Strategy - These are well-considered, detailed and informed by data and research. They can be immensely powerful when done to the right level for the context. They consider a wide range of possibilities, influences and inputs. The strategy then described in depth how these influences have led to a set of choices — both choices to do something and to not do something. As well as how these choices will be executed.