Executive Guide to Strategic Planning & Business Strategy Shaping - Perfect for Leadership Development & Corporate Decision Making

Sculpting Air: The Executive's Guide to Shaping Strategyby Rich HorwarthA few months ago, I have reviewed 'Storm Rider: Becoming A Strategic Thinker', by the same author. The author is Rich Horwath, Chief Strategy Officer of his own consulting firm, Sculptura Consulting. (According to his corporate website, he has apparently renamed this firm as 'The Strategic Thinking Institute'.) To recap, the earlier book outlines five essential skill sets for managers to become strategic thinkers:- discovering purpose;- creating differentiation;- decision making;- problem solving;- sculpting strategy;This time, he outlines the essential skill sets for senior managers in the new book as follows:- Discovery;- Strategic Thinking;- Strategic Planning;- Strategy Rollout;- Strategy Tune-up;From the intellectual standpoint, there is absolutely no basic difference between the earlier book & this book. It seems the author has now put in a little more emphasis on the 'sculpting strategy' part & uses the metaphor of a sculptor in shaping a model. He writes: "Strategy is to business as air is to life - essential, yet unseen. Properly channled, air becomes wind & strategy becomes intelligent action - both unleashing unparalleled power visible to all." I don't deny that.Just like the earlier book, the author again takes the opportunity to promote his series of proprietary 'strategy shaping' tools, like StrategySphere, StrategyPrint systems. Nevertheless, the author has quite an impressive Fortune 100 client list.I must add: something really stands out from the author & his consulting firm. Unlike others, his firm offers a very well-structured & systematically-configured 'Strategist Training System', from beginner to advanced level. They consist of nine different programs delivered in an interactive workshop format. The author's two books apparently form a strategic part of the curriculum.One of the author's many observations catches my eye: "Research shows that the most important competency for a leader to possess is the ability to develop strategy. Unfortunately, only 4% of leaders at all levels of organisations are effective strategists." This is certainly very interesting. The author issues this ultimate challenge at the end of his book: "Will you or your competitor be holding the chisel?"I guess all senior managers out there better shape up or else you will get beaten.On the whole, & to end this review, I still reckon that the two books mentioned in this review are worth to be read & to be included in your 'Strategic Thinking' bookshelf.