Strategies direct plans, make them coherent.

A plan is not the same thing as a strategy. Everyone plans, not everyone has a strategy. Strategies are what gives coherence to your plans.

See:

Avoiding the Planning Trap

To avoid “playing just to play” and actually act according to a strategy:

  • Accept angst. You’ll never know for sure a strategy will work
  • Lay out the logic. Then tweak as necessary.
  • Write a Strategy Document

Example of a Strategy

  • Southwest Airlines decided they would get more customers by being the cheapest airline by: minimizing plane-on-ground time, using a point-to-point model, not offering in-flight meals & specializing in short-to-medium flights, not book though travel agents, and only buying one type of plane
    • Where we’re playing: short-haul airline travel
    • How we’re choosing to win: minimize costs to consumer
    • The capabilities we need: rapid plane turnover, direct-to-consumer ticketing

Source