Strategy Without Illusion: A Series for Leaders Who Want More Than a Budget
Series Introduction – Strategy without illusion.
The numbers stacked up. A few tweaks, and the plan was signed off, everyone nodded.
Many growth plans fall apart not because the idea was weak, but because the alignment was false, and the strategy never truly existed.
But the drift starts early. Confusion creeps in. Energy fades. And before long, teams are busy, but not coordinated. Months pass, targets are missed, and confidence withers.
This isn’t a story about execution. It’s a story about illusion, the illusion of alignment.
This series is for non-exec directors, Chairs, and portfolio managers who’ve sat in those meetings. You know what it looks like when a boardroom smiles, nods, agrees… and then watches progress stall. You’ve backed a plan only to find the team misunderstood it, or never believed in it. You’ve seen strategy reduced to numbers, and clarity traded for pace.
Strategy Without Illusion explores how to fix that.
It’s about:
- The difference between financial plans and real strategic direction
- How to challenge alignment without undermining trust
- Why most strategies ignore external reality, and what to do about it
- What you should be able to ask any executive team
- And how the right rhythm of strategic check-ins can transform delivery
It’s grounded in real-world leadership, not theory. It’s practical, not preachy. And it’s written for those who operate from the touchline, shaping performance without playing every ball.
If you’ve ever wondered why so many plans don’t deliver, this series is for you.
Read the series:
- Why Most Board-Approved Plans Never Deliver (now live)
- You Don’t Need a New Strategy, You Need Follow-Through (coming next)
- When Strategy is Clear but Performance Lags (To Follow)
- Three Questions Every NED Should Ask Before Signing Off a Growth Plan (To Follow)
- Strategy Without Illusion – Series Wrap-up (To Follow)
