Thinking About Strategy? Think LONG Term! Barry Talks to Francis Wade

Summary

 

In this conversation, Barry Eustance and Francis Wade of Framework Consulting discuss the significance of long-term strategic thinking in organisations.

 

Francis shares insights from his experience in strategic planning, emphasising the need for game-changing strategies that extend beyond short-term results.

 

He explains how to overcome the prevalent short-term mindset in executive teams and the importance of backcasting to create a unified long-term vision.

 

The discussion also touches on the legacy leaders leave behind and the transformative power of thinking long-term.

 

 

Takeaways

 

• Long-term strategy is about game-changing results, not just thinking ahead.
• Organisations often focus too much on short-term results due to pressure from investors.
• Commitment to long-term value creation leads to more ambitious strategies.
• Backcasting helps teams visualise their long-term goals and plan accordingly.
• Short-term actions should align with long-term aspirations for effective strategy.
• Legacy thinking can inspire leaders to make impactful decisions today.
• Diverse age demographics in teams can enhance strategic discussions.
• Facilitating difficult conversations is key to developing a unified strategy.
• Long-term thinking can reveal the irrelevance of current focuses and investments.
• The process of strategic planning should be rigorous and credible to avoid wish lists.

 

Sound Bites

 

• "It’s about long-term thinking and strategy."
• "What are you going to argue for?"
• "Thinking Long Term – “the magic happens”

 

Chapters

 

00:00 Introduction to Long-Term Strategy

10:06 Legacy and Long-Term Thinking

19:34 Facilitating Backcasting for Strategy

30:01 riverside_barry__ oct 17, 2024 001_the_sixsess consult.mp4

30:1 1JGP Live Outro 090824 V1.0.wav

 

Useful Links

 

The Sixsess Consultancy Website

https://sixsess.org/

 

Barry Eustance’s LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-eustance/

 

 

Framework Consulting’s Website

https://fwconsulting.com/wordpress/about-us/francis-wade/

 

Francis Wade’s LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciswade/

 

Long-Term Strategy Newsletter and Podcast 

https://longtermstrategy.info

 

The Long Term Strategy Conference 2025
https://strategyconf.fwconsulting.com/francis-wade/

 

 

The Emergent Approach to Strategy – Peter Compo
https://emergentapproach.com

 

Peter Compo’s LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petercompo/

 

Keywords

 

long-term strategy, game-changing results, strategic planning, backcasting, organisational growth, leadership, commitment, vision, legacy, short-term thinking