In this engaging discussion, Lena Roland dives into the findings of the Future of Strategy report, highlighting the struggles strategists face with recognition and value within their roles. She addresses the worrying decline in the perceived influence of strategists and the identity crisis stemming from traditional agency practices. The conversation also touches on the shift from time-based to project-based compensation models, the need for genuine customer insights, and the significance of maintaining human skills in an AI-driven landscape.
Strategists are experiencing an identity crisis, feeling undervalued and struggling to align with client needs due to role fragmentation.
The integration of AI in strategy development raises concerns about accuracy, prompting strategists to focus on enhancing the human element in their work.
Deep dives
Challenges Facing Strategic Professionals
Strategists are currently facing a significant identity crisis as the role and value of strategy within agencies are becoming increasingly unclear. Many strategists express a feeling of being undervalued, with nearly half reporting that clients do not fairly compensate them for their work. Additionally, the industry is experiencing fragmentation, with various types of strategic roles emerging, which complicates alignment with overarching brand goals. This sprouting of specializations is causing some strategists to lose sight of the broader strategic picture, potentially undermining the effectiveness of their work in meeting clients' needs.
The Need for Client-Centric Approaches
To enhance strategic relevance, there is a pressing need for strategists to deepen their understanding of clients' customers and their pain points. Despite the wealth of data available, briefing documents often lack detailed information about target audiences, limiting strategists' ability to create effective strategies. A notable statistic indicates that only 24% of strategists report receiving comprehensive target audience details in client briefs, highlighting a critical gap. By reinforcing their position as customer advocates, strategists can ensure their work is more aligned with real consumer needs, thereby enhancing the strategic impact.
Navigating the AI Landscape in Strategy
The incorporation of AI into the strategic process presents both opportunities and concerns for strategists. While a portion of strategists is adopting innovative approaches, many remain cautious, prioritizing accuracy and human involvement in strategy development. The increase in concerns regarding the accuracy of AI-generated insights reflects a cautionary stance as 71% of strategists worry about the validity of AI outputs. Ultimately, strategists are encouraged to focus on developing skills that augment the human aspect of strategy, ensuring they leverage technology without losing the unique value humans bring to collaborative strategizing.
WARC's David Tiltman speaks to Lena Roland about the recently released future of strategy report. Discussing how strategists feel about how their discipline is recognised, fixes to these challenges, and how AI is affecting strategy.
Stay up-to-date with the latest marketing and advertising news with our free daily newsletter.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode