Strategy Snapshot: Your 15-Minute Strategic Health Check

I’ve been rethinking my framework and how I teach strategy to folks.

I created a new strategic assessment for folks in premium seats in tickets that I shared on ‘Talking Tickets’.

Today, I want to share a companion assessment that is pointed at folks in strategy.

A few things before we get to the assessment:

• Please give me some feedback. What works? What doesn’t?
• I hope you will share with me what you’ve learned.
• I hope you will share this if it is valuable to you.

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Introduction

This diagnostic tool helps you quickly assess your organization’s strategic health across five critical dimensions. Each section includes key questions, a simple scoring system, and immediate action items.

How to Use This Tool

1. Rate each question from 1–5 (1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree)
2. Add up your scores in each section
3. Review your results and recommended next steps

Section 1: Strategic Clarity

Core Questions

• Our organization has a clear, compelling direction that everyone understands
• We can articulate what makes us different from competitors in one sentence
• Our strategic priorities directly support our competitive advantage
• We consistently say “no” to opportunities that don’t fit our strategy

Quick Analysis

Total Score: __/20

• 16–20: Strong strategic clarity
• 11–15: Moderate clarity with room for improvement
• 0–10: Significant strategic confusion

Section 2: Market Position

Core Questions

• We have a defined target market that we serve better than anyone else
• Our pricing reflects our unique value, not market averages
• We can name our top three competitors and explain why we win against each
• Our market position is sustainable and defensible

Quick Analysis

Total Score: __/20

• 16–20: Strong market position
• 11–15: Vulnerable position
• 0–10: Weak market position

Section 3: Execution Capability

Core Questions

• Our team knows exactly what they need to do to execute our strategy
• We have clear metrics that tell us if we’re succeeding
• We regularly review and adjust our strategic initiatives
• Our resources are aligned with our strategic priorities

Quick Analysis

Total Score: __/20

• 16–20: Strong execution capability
• 11–15: Execution gaps present
• 0–10: Significant execution challenges

Section 4: Brand Alignment

Core Questions

• Our brand promise matches our actual customer experience
• All our touchpoints consistently reflect our brand position
• Our team can articulate our brand values without prompting
• Our marketing efforts reinforce our strategic position

Quick Analysis

Total Score: __/20

• 16–20: Strong brand alignment
• 11–15: Brand inconsistencies present
• 0–10: Significant brand misalignment

Section 5: Future Readiness

Core Questions

• We regularly scan for threats to our current business model
• We have identified clear opportunities for future growth
• Our strategy includes plans for innovation and adaptation
• We’re investing in capabilities we’ll need in the future

Quick Analysis

Total Score: __/20

• 16–20: High future readiness
• 11–15: Moderate preparedness
• 0–10: Significant vulnerability

Overall Analysis

Total Score: __/100

• 80–100: Strategic Excellence
• 60–79: Strategic Competence
• 40–59: Strategic Gaps
• 0–39: Strategic Crisis

Next Steps

Based on your score:

• 80–100: Focus on optimization and future opportunities
• 60–79: Address specific gaps in your strategic framework
• 40–59: Consider a strategic reset in key areas
• 0–39: Urgent need for strategic overhaul

Why Scores Matter

Low scores in specific sections often indicate:

• Strategic Clarity: Lack of direction leading to resource waste
• Market Position: Commodity trap risk
• Execution Capability: Strategy-execution gap
• Brand Alignment: Customer confusion and lost opportunities
• Future Readiness: Vulnerability to disruption

Let me know how this works for you.

Dave