Strategic Thinking

by Jamie Flinchbaugh on 04-17-25

Strategic planning is done in a static moment to look forward, and strategic decisions are made, sometimes frequently and with great impact, between those planning windows. Both of those activities require a critical element: strategic thinking. This is one the most sought-after capabilities in leadership roles, yet one of the hardest to develop. This video series is a combination of 10 videos, 6 interviews, and a webinar recording included at the end. It was developed early during the pandemic to help the many companies, large and small, who were going through dramatic and rapid strategic shifts. There are many ways to be a strategic thinker, and this series doesn’t propose a singular method but helps you find and development the approach that best fits you.

Watch the Strategic Thinking videos on YouTube

The Strategic Thinker, The Strategic Process and Your Strategy

Strategy goes beyond planning—it’s about developing strategic thinking as a fundamental leadership skill. Discover how strategy functions at every organizational level, why it resembles a vector with both direction and magnitude, and how to incorporate strategic thinking naturally into your leadership approach.

Strategy as an Integrated Approach

Effective strategy requires mastering multiple dimensions—Plan, Ploy, Pattern, Position, and Perspective. See how leaders like Bezos and Branson integrate all five elements, why single-dimensional strategies fall short, and how to develop more flexible strategic thinking capabilities.

The Strategic Thinkers Traits Skills and Methods

What distinguishes genuine strategic thinkers? Explore essential traits like open-mindedness and risk tolerance, key skills including pattern recognition and decisive action, and vital methods such as scenario planning and continuous hypothesis testing.

Myths of Strategy

Challenge common misconceptions about strategic development. Learn why separating thinking from action creates problems, how strategies naturally evolve through emergent patterns, and why personality and situational context matter more than rigid methodologies.

Lean Behaviors in Strategy

Lean thinking principles can dramatically enhance strategic effectiveness. Discover the importance of direct customer observation, systematic waste elimination, strategic standardization, continuous testing, and how problem-solving capabilities drive superior strategic outcomes.

Using Business Model Canvas to Shape Strategy

The Business Model Canvas transforms strategic planning into a visual process. See how it functions like a process map for your business, connecting customer segments to value propositions while clarifying partnerships, cost structures, and revenue streams.

Bonus Video The JFlinch Business Model Canvas

Watch a practical application of the Business Model Canvas for Jamie’s consulting business. Explore how value propositions drive key decisions, trusted relationships shape service delivery, and quarterly engagements create sustainable revenue streams.

Internal Strategies Using Business Model Canvas

Internal departments can leverage the Business Model Canvas for strategic clarity. Learn to identify internal customer segments, develop compelling value propositions, leverage cross-functional partnerships, and design service channels that maximize organizational impact.

The Strategic Pivot

Successful companies know when and how to pivot strategically. Examine why startups must test assumptions early, how Netflix transformed around streaming technology, when to expand existing strengths, and how business model pivots create sustainable advantage.

Mapping Your Strategic Gaps and Taking Action

Transform strategy into execution through effective gap analysis. Learn to distinguish between known and unknown gaps, map improvement opportunities, implement targeted experimentation, evaluate confidence levels, and develop action plans that drive results.

Strategic Thinking Interview with Wayne Barz 2020

Wayne Barz, Chief Investment Officer at Ben Franklin Technology Partners, discusses startup strategy. Learn about balancing instinct with market feedback, regional investment contexts, pivoting decisions, and how successful CEOs transform strategic thinking into action.

Strategic Thinking Interview with Thomas D Craig, Ph D 2020

Dr. Tom Craig from DeSales University explores strategic fundamentals. Discover why strategy transcends planning, how managers develop conceptual thinking, when structure should follow strategy, and how companies build resilience for uncertain environments.

Strategic Thinking Interview with Steve Cook 2020

Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital, shares practical insights. Learn why execution trumps perfect planning, how small teams create better strategies, when operational experience enhances investment decisions, and how successful companies make incremental strategic pivots.

Strategic Thinking Interview with Nolan Godfrey 2020

Nolan Godfrey of Stewart Leadership discusses organizational alignment. Explore why strategy must drive structure, how companies cascade vision throughout teams, when to adjust organizational design, and how effective metrics measure strategic progress.

Strategic Thinking Interview with Joshua Ehrig 2020

Professor Joshua Ehrig from Lehigh University examines strategic thinking. Discover how to balance process with mindset, help established companies think like startups, shift between execution and exploration modes, and enable better strategic adaptation.

Strategic Thinking Interview with Jeff Grimshaw 2020

Jeff Grimshaw, co-founder of mg Strategy, discusses strategic fundamentals. Learn about managing trade-offs for long-term ROI, shifting from intuition to deliberate reasoning, creating “Zen information flow” for better decisions, and making strategic capability accessible beyond executive levels.

Strategic Pivots Webinar 2020 With Jamie Flinchbaugh

Jamie explores business transformation strategies during market disruption. Discover how the Business Model Canvas creates pivot opportunities, when to abandon outdated assumptions versus reshape approaches, and how strategic experimentation drives success in challenging environments.

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