Strategic Thinking Skills

Course Description:
Develop the mindset and methods to think more strategically in business and everyday life. Learn from history, psychology, and modern strategy models to sharpen your decision-making, avoid common pitfalls, and uncover innovative solutions that give you a competitive edge.

Course Outline

01: The World of Strategic Thinking
Enter the fascinating world of strategic thinking. Learn the differences between “strategy” and “tactics” and how strategic thinking applies in business, politics, sports, and beyond.
33 min

02: The Origins and Relevance of Ancient Strategy
Explore the roots of strategic thinking with lessons from Thucydides, Sun Tzu, Hannibal, and Machiavelli—thinkers whose ideas remain valuable today.
32 min

03: The Dawn of Modern Strategic Thinking
Follow the development of strategy from the French Revolution to World War I, with insights from Napoleon and influential military and geopolitical theorists.
32 min

04: Modern Principles of Strategic Conflict
Examine principles of war such as Objective, Offensive, Maneuver, and Unity of Command. See how these guidelines transcend the battlefield to apply in life and business.
30 min

05: Geography – Know Your Terrain
Discover how physical and situational terrain shapes success, from Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo to strategic moves in chess and business.
30 min

06: Grand Strategists and Strategic Intent
Unpack the importance of vision and intent in strategy. Study examples like John F. Kennedy’s leadership and learn the consequences of lacking direction.
33 min

07: The Core and the Rise of Strategic Planning
Trace the rise of strategic planning after World War I and learn a six-step process for crafting and executing winning strategies.
30 min

08: Which Business Strategy? Fundamental Choices
Contrast cost leadership and differentiation strategies, and explore hyperdifferentiation (“focus”) as ways to compete and succeed in business and life.
32 min

09: Your Competitive Advantage – Find the Blue Ocean
Learn how to find your unique selling proposition, develop a “blue ocean” strategy, and embrace risk-taking as a way to stand apart.
31 min

10: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
Master analytical tools like PEST analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, value chain analysis, and SWOT for evaluating opportunities and challenges.
28 min

11: Avoid the Pathologies of Execution
Explore why great strategies often fail, with lessons from military combat on intelligence failures, overreach, and communication breakdowns.
29 min

12: Tactics of Combat as Problem-Solving Tools
Study military tactics like flanking and indirect approaches and see how they can be applied as problem-solving strategies in business.
31 min

13: Shock of the New – Inflection Points
Understand how to adapt to major disruptions in business, politics, and warfare, using case studies from airline deregulation to the Crusades.
29 min

14: Surprise! Perils and Power of Strategic Deception
Uncover the role of deception and surprise in strategy. Learn how timing and false expectations can be leveraged in competition and negotiation.
29 min

15: The Sources and Uses of Reliable Intelligence
Examine what intelligence is, how it’s gathered, and why it often fails. Learn how intelligence cycles impact strategy and decision-making.
29 min

16: Move and Countermove – The Theory of Games
Dive into game theory with classics like the Prisoner’s Dilemma and Tragedy of the Commons to understand reasoning and counterstrategies.
29 min

17: The Evolution of Cooperation
See how cooperation can be a strategic advantage, with examples from the WWI Christmas truce to modern corporate alliances.
31 min

18: When Strategy Breaks Down
Learn to recognize misalignments, groupthink, and “strategic masquerade” that derail plans, and develop resilience against strategic erosion.
31 min

19: Leverage Cognitive Psychology for Better Strategy
Avoid irrational thinking by applying cognitive psychology insights, using tools like historical comparisons and situational logic.
29 min

20: Strategic Intuition and Creative Insight
Discover how intuition and creative insights can drive breakthroughs. Explore steps for cultivating strategic intuition in decision-making.
29 min

21: From Systemic Problems to Systemic Solutions
Analyze systemic problems and learn structured methods for turning recurring challenges into opportunities for systemic solutions.
30 min

22: Seize the Future with Scenario Analysis
Plan for uncertainty by practicing scenario analysis. Learn methods to anticipate and adapt to multiple possible futures.
32 min

23: The Correlation of Forces, Luck, and Culture
Study how luck, culture, and force correlations influence outcomes, and how to integrate them into your strategic approach.
28 min

24: Strategic Thinking as a Way of Life
Conclude with why and how to adopt strategic thinking in daily life. Learn to see patterns, anticipate changes, and shape the future.
33 min