Water Cooler

Advantage Begins with Positioning

#420 – February 16, 2026 Advantage Begins with Positioning Hello, fellow strategists!  In a noisy environment, advantage rarely comes from doing more. It comes from sharper positioning, clearer focus, and better leverage. In this edition, we explore four questions every strategy must answer; the risks of adding content instead of reframing it; the distortions created

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Using Foresight, Constraint and Friction

#419 – January 26, 2026 Strategy in Practice: Using Foresight, Constraint, and Friction Hello, fellow strategists!  We often obsess over flow — streamlining processes, removing barriers, seeking the path of least resistance. But a strategy that is too smooth often slips. More often, progress flounders because of an overlooked constraint, dysfunctional habit, or countervailing trend.

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Mindsets and Methods for Executing Strategy

#416 – November 17, 2025 Mindsets & Methods for Executing Strategy Hello, fellow strategists!  In this edition, we focus on the forces that make strategy actually happen — from the psychology that can stall even the best intentions, to the middle managers who act as your organization’s nervous system, to the personal traits and habits

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Tips: From Tense Talks to Turnarounds

#415 – October 27, 2025 Lessons for Leaders: From Tense Talks to Turnarounds Hello, fellow strategists!  In this edition of our 8020Info Water Cooler, we’re sharing insights to help you zero in on what matters, navigate tricky conversations, and appreciate the hidden limitations of AI companions. There’s also the McKinsey 7-S Strategic Framework and other

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Dealing with Drift, Stutter, and Isolation

#414 – October 5, 2025 Dealing with Drift, Stutter, and Isolation Hello, fellow strategists!  Leaders often feel stuck or adrift, trapped by old patterns, roles, or structures. In this edition, we explore how to design your senior team strategically, foster trusted inside influencers, and create connected workplaces.  These ideas can help your people stop stuttering

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