How to Present a Strategy in 6 Slides
The basic business strategy outline that I start with every time.
Strategic thinking is a trait that separates executors from leaders. When your boss asks you to create a strategy, know that you’re being given an opportunity to prove that you’re a leader. A well-crafted presentation is one of the best ways to merchandise your strategic thinking and should therefore be your part of your default response to a strategy assignment — research, analyze, build strategy, present strategy, execute strategy, report back on results.
There are many ways to present a strategy. There are also many wrong ways. If you’re unsure of how to approach it, this article is for you. A great strategy can be delivered in as little as six slides, which I’ll outline below.
First, please note: a strategy is not a plan.
A list of tactics with a timeline attached is a plan. A strategy is much more than that. It’s how you convince your audience that your plan is great so they’ll buy-in to your approach.
Think of the tactics as the “what” and the goal as the “why”. The strategy is the “how”. It’s the guiding principle — the elevator pitch for your tactics, backed by research and data whenever possible.
