Why do so many strategies sound compelling in the boardroom but struggle to shape what people actually do?

In this episode of the Thriving Leaders Podcast, I speak with Alicia McKay, an Aotearoa New Zealand-based writer, speaker and strategist who has spent 15 years advising leaders on strategy, change and leadership. She is also the author of From Strategy to Action, You Don’t Need an MBA and Local Legends.

In this direct and thought-provoking conversation, Alicia and I challenge familiar assumptions about strategy, leadership and collaboration. We also examine what may be lost when judgement and decision-making are increasingly handed to automated systems.

If you have ever watched a strong strategy lose momentum after the planning session, this conversation will give you a different way to understand why—and what you can do about it.

In this episode, we cover:

• How strategy is different in local government and the public sector than in corporate organisations
• Why strategy often loses momentum after the planning process
• How strategic thinking shows up in everyday leadership
• What leaders may misunderstand about people and change
• The transition from subject-matter expert to strategic leader
• What gets in the way of cross-functional collaboration
• How organisational systems influence behaviour
• The relationship between trust, agency and accountability
• What automation could mean for human judgement

Watch the full episode to hear Alicia’s refreshingly direct perspective on what it really takes to turn strategy into action.

About Alicia McKay

Alicia McKay is a writer, speaker and strategist based in Aotearoa New Zealand. She works with executive and elected leaders to improve strategic thinking, decision-making and leadership in complex environments.

Alicia is the author of:

From Strategy to Action: A Guide to Getting Shit Done in the Public Sector

You Don’t Need an MBA: Leadership Lessons That Cut Through the Crap

Local Legends: How to Make a Difference in Local Government

Resources and links

• Alicia McKay’s website
• About Alicia McKay
• Alicia McKay’s books
• You Don’t Need an MBA
• From Strategy to Action

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