In this episode of Partnering Leadership, host Mahan Tavakoli interviews strategic thinking expert Rich Horwath, author of six books on strategy, including his latest Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence. Rich shares his decades of expertise, shining a light on common pitfalls that executives and leadership teams face as they approach strategic planning. He then outlines his practical 3A framework – Acumen, Allocation, Action – that leaders at any level can use to begin thinking and behaving more strategically daily. The conversation explores important concepts around strategic agility, competitive advantage, customer insight, and leading change during times of greater uncertainty. With so many models and approaches promising the "secret formula" to developing winning strategic plans, Rich cuts through the noise with relevant and impactful principles and perspectives. Actionable Takeaways:Learn why strategic plans often lack traction and how to avoid pitfallsDiscover a simple yet powerful model for strategic thinkingIdentify key blindspots even seasoned leaders have around strategyUnderstand how competitive advantage stems from being different, not betterSee why you must create space for strategic reflectionGain insight on customer needs versus feedbackFind out why continual iterations matter more than annual planningHear how to leverage AI and data for strategic advantageFoster strategic thinking at all levels of an organizationUse a tactical approach to uncover opportunitiesPartnering Leadership Episodes ReferencedInnovative Thinking & Strategy by Tapping Into the Science of Subtraction with University of Virginia Professor Leidy KlotzWinning the Right Game: How to Disrupt, Defend, and Deliver in a Changing World with Ron AdnerLeading Through The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence with Professor Ajay AgrawalHow to Lead and Innovate by Learning from The Amazon Way with John RossmanConnect with Rich HorwathStrategy Skills Website Rich Horwath on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website