The artful leader develops strategy with four key insights in mind:
1. A good strategy mitigates its downside. Great leaders don’t take enormous risks unless they must. They instinctually work with a cognitive heuristic: X/Y, wherein “X” equals achievement and “Y” equals risk.
2. A good strategy works across an adjustable timeframe. Most strategic plans are developed with a static mindset but executed within a dynamic context.
3. A good strategy allows the leader to “test their way in.” One of the most important ways to mitigate risk is to discipline it with increments.
4. A good strategy is dependent upon a good strategist. Don’t build your work around your plan; build your work around the man (or the woman). A quality strategist is more important than an accurate strategy.
