In this episode of our Sun Tzu & The Art of War mini-series, we dive into the internal game of strategy, looking at composure, ego, fear, and decision-making under pressure.

Have you ever realised that great strategies rarely fail on paper, but they fail in practice when emotions take over? Today we are learning how to stop ego and fear from distorting your business decisions, discover why clear thinking under pressure is your ultimate competitive advantage, and get a practical 4-step framework to protect your clarity when the stakes are high.

Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools, and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach, and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/

#suntzu #theartofwar #businessstrategy #leadership #decisionmaking #executiveleadership #mindset #strategicthinking #management

Execution means nothing without good timing.

In this installment of our Sun Tzu series, we analyse how ancient military principles apply to modern business operations, specifically around knowing when to launch an initiative, when to hold back, and how to build momentum in uncertain conditions.

If you have ever launched a product too early or hesitated on a decision until the opportunity passed, this guide provides a practical framework to evaluate organisational readiness and read market signals effectively.

Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools, and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/

#BusinessStrategy #SunTzu #Leadership #ArtOfWar #Management #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #StrategicThinking #LeadershipDevelopment

Is Sun Tzu’s The Art of War still relevant for modern business leaders, or is it completely out of touch with today's collaborative work culture?

In this impromptu episode of our Sun Tzu and The Art of War mini-series, we address a critical piece of viewer feedback: why ancient battle strategies often fail to connect in modern boardrooms. We dive into the branding problem surrounding warlike leadership language, the core structural differences between war (value destruction) and business (value creation), and why taking Sun Tzu literally instead of philosophically is holding leaders back.

Discover how to strip away outdated metaphors and reframe ancient strategic thinking for high-stakes decision-making under uncertainty.

Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/

#SunTzu #TheArtOfWar #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #MarketPositioning #StrategicThinking #GrowthStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #ModernLeadership #StrategicThinking #Management #BusinessPodcast #DecisionMaking

What if the smartest strategy in business is not to compete directly at all?

In this episode of our Sun Tzu: The Art of War mini-series, we dive into one of history’s most famous strategic principles: "Winning Without Fighting."

Discover how to change the rules of the game so you no longer have to fight on standard terms. Learn how to move away from price wars and long sales cycles using three powerful business levers: Differentiation, Repositioning, and Partnerships, along with our actionable Strategic Moves Matrix.

QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTS: Which of the three levers (Differentiation, Repositioning, or Partnerships) does your business need to focus on right now?

Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies. To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/

#SunTzu #TheArtOfWar #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #MarketPositioning #StrategicThinking #GrowthStrategy #BusinessGrowth

Are you failing because you’re not doing enough or because you’re doing too much?

Welcome back to our mini-series Sun Tzu and The Art of War. In this episode, Mike dives deep into one of the most destructive traps in modern business... Strategic Overload.

By translating Sun Tzu’s ancient military wisdom on the "cost of prolonged conflict" into a practical toolkit, Mike explains why true strategic discipline isn't about doing more, but about having the courage to do less. Learn how to stop diluting your impact, identify your true priorities, and master the art of strategic subtraction.

#businessgrowth #leadership #businessstrategy #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #suntzu #leadersinstrategy

Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community:

https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business?

I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/

Most business leaders think winning is about working harder and selling more. But what if the secret to sustainable growth isn't doing more but thinking differently before you act?

In Episode 3 of our Art of War mini-series, we translate Sun Tzu’s timeless principles into a practical framework for modern business. We dive deep into why most strategies fail and how to bridge the dangerous gap between what you believe is true and what the market actually experiences. Stop asking "What should we do next?" and start asking "Where might we be wrong?"

Today's Homework:

Take 10 minutes today to answer two questions honestly: What do you believe about your business that you haven't truly tested? And what might change if that belief turned out to be wrong?

Share your thoughts or breakthroughs in the comments below.

#businessgrowth #leadership #businessstrategy #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #suntzu #leadersinstrategy

Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/

Most businesses think they lose opportunities because of a poor pitch, a weak proposal, or stronger competition. The reality? Most deals are won or lost long before the meeting ever takes place.

In this episode of the Art of War series, you will get an insight into what content becoming a member of our Patreon community can give you, while we explore one of Sun Tzu's most powerful strategic principles: win before you fight. Discover how positioning, not persuasion, is often the biggest factor in business success.

Whether you're a business owner, senior leader, consultant, or sales professional, this episode will help you stop competing harder and start competing smarter.

#businessgrowth #leadership #businessstrategy #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #suntzu #leadersinstrategy

Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/

Are you tired of throwing money at marketing campaigns that just don’t deliver? You aren't alone. In this episode of Leaders in Strategy, we tackle the real fears, industry distrust, and overwhelm that business owners face when trying to scale online. We are joined by Jess Williams, Director of Design in the Shires, a website and digital marketing expert who handles our very own website.

We dive deep into why humanising your brand ("people buy from people") beats a rigid sales pitch every time, why traditional print marketing still holds value, and how building a workplace culture centred on mental health and happiness directly fuels business success.

Stick around until the end, where Jess lays out three actionable "homework" steps you can use to audit your website traffic and social media strategy today!

#businessgrowth #leadership #businessstrategy #entrepreneurship #leadershipdevelopment #workplacewellness #LeadersInStrategy

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You can find out more about Jess and Design in the Shires here: https://www.designintheshires.co.uk/

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Join our Patreon Community for exclusive content, downloadable resources, business planning tools and access to our growing Leaders in Strategy community: https://patreon.com/c/leadersinstrategypodcast

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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

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Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775/