How To Learn Strategic Thinking with Roger Martin

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova. I'm thrilled to welcome you back to a series I did with my dear friend, Roger Martin. He's the author of the amazing book, Playing to Win. In this episode, we're talking about the four key characteristics of strategic thinking.

THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR…anyone who wants to strengthen their strategic thinking and make better decisions in complex, uncertain environments.

TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE…many people think strategy is about making plans, setting goals, or controlling outcomes. Roger argues that strategic thinking starts by accepting the opposite: the most important variables are often the ones you don't control. Customers, competitors, and markets will ultimately do what they want to do. The strategist's job is to influence those outcomes by thoughtfully configuring everything within their control. In this conversation, Roger breaks down the four key characteristics of strategic thinkers. Together, he and Tiffani explore how these skills can be developed and why strategic thinking is less about innate talent and more about deliberate practice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Strategic thinkers focus on influencing outcomes they cannot directly control. The best decisions come from combining quantitative and qualitative information. Strong strategies emerge when multiple variables are considered simultaneously. Strategic thinking is a learnable skill that improves through practice and training.

WHAT I LOVE MOST…Roger's reminder that strategic thinking is not something you're born with. Too often, people assume strategy is reserved for a select few with a natural gift for seeing around corners. Instead, Roger reframes strategic thinking as a set of skills that anyone can develop.

Running Time: 31:02

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