Stop guessing. Start thinking like a strategist.
Every manager faces the same challenges: a complex problem with no obvious starting point, a board presentation that has to land, a change programme losing momentum, a roadmap with too many priorities and not enough budget. The difference between managers who flounder and those who lead isn't intelligence. It's having the right thinking tools, and knowing when to use them.
The Strategic Manager's Playbook puts the most powerful frameworks in business, from MECE and the Pyramid Principle to Porter's Five Forces, OKRs, and Kotter's 8 Steps of change, into one practical, accessible guide. But this isn't a dry encyclopaedia of theory. James shows you how to choose the right framework for the problem in front of you, adapt it to your context, and turn analysis into decisions that stick.
Inside, you'll learn how to:
Break down messy problems into clear, solvable partsCommunicate with executives using structures that command attentionAnalyse markets, competitors, and your own value chain with confidenceWin over stakeholders and lead change that actually landsSet goals and KPIs that drive performance instead of paperwork
Whether you're a new team leader or a seasoned executive, this is the reference you'll reach for before every big decision.
Think clearly. Communicate sharply. Lead strategically.