Why organizational strategy can be both top-down and bottom-up.

As Professor Jesper Sørensen sees it, a winning strategy is the result of conversations, not commands, and that strategy can be directed from the C-suite, but it doesn’t have to be. “Lots of great strategies are discovered,” he says, “they’re discovered because the leaders were able to listen to their frontline workers or their frontline managers.” A more iterative approach, says Sørensen, helps companies adapt their strategy to an ever-changing landscape.
In the latest episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Sørensen joins host and lecturer Matt Abrahams to discuss how organizations can use better communication to craft better strategies.

Episode Reference Links:

• Stanford GSB Profile: Jesper B. Sørensen
• Sørensen’s Book: Making Great Strategy
• Original Episode: Ep.71 Strategy Success: How to Communicate Your Gameplan Website / YouTube 
• Ep.103 Simple is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to Any Audience Website / YouTube 
• Ep.41 Speak Like a Founder: How Successful Entrepreneurs Communicate to Their Teams Website / YouTube 

Connect:

• Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
• Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction
Host Matt Abrahams introduces Jesper Sørensen,  professor of organizational behavior at the GSB

(00:01:38) Defining Strategy
The core of strategy as securing an organization's economic prosperity, distinct from planning.

(00:03:21) Common Misconceptions about Strategy
Misunderstandings leaders often have regarding the nature of strategy 

(00:05:07) Strategy Argument
The concept of a strategy argument, a structured approach to strategic decision-making.

(00:07:04) Strategy as a Communication Tool
The need for strategic communication to align and adapt within an organization.

(00:10:53) The Dynamic Nature of Strategy
How strategies evolve and the importance of feedback from all organizational levels.

(00:12:29) Storytelling in Strategy Communication
The power of storytelling in creating and communicating a coherent strategic vision.
(00:14:55) Propagating Strategy Through Storytelling
How leaders can use storytelling to align their teams with a strategy.
(00:17:01) The Final Three Questions
Jesper shares communication advice he’s received, a communicator he admires, and his ingredients for successful communication.

(00:23:39) Conclusion

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:21) - Defining Strategy
• (04:04) - Common Misconceptions about Strategy
• (05:50) - The Concept of a Strategy Argument
• (07:47) - Strategy as a Communication Tool
• (11:36) - The Dynamic Nature of Strategy
• (13:12) - Storytelling in Strategy Communication
• (15:38) - Propagating Strategy Through Storytelling
• (17:44) - The Final Three Questions
• (24:22) - Conclusion