# What "Be More Strategic" Actually Means (And How to Do It)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078/what-be-more-strategic-actually-means-and-how-to-do-it
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078/what-be-more-strategic-actually-means-and-how-to-do-it.md
Podcast: [Chief Story Officer](https://stenobird.com/podcast/chief-story-officer-7582078)
Published: 2025-12-12T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://chief-story-officer.captivate.fm
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/1c0bd589-d7af-422c-b361-eec3c71ab801.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/chief-story-officer-7582078/episodes/what-be-more-strategic-actually-means-and-how-to-do-it
Duration seconds: 1910

## Resource

Charlie Curson, strategist and leadership coach with 25+ years advising companies like VISA, McDonald's, and Unilever, joins the show to break down what "being strategic" actually means. In this conversation, we explore why executives can't define the very thing they demand from their teams. Charlie shares the story of a 20-year operational veteran told he needed to "be more strategic"—but when Charlie asked the boss what that meant, he couldn't explain it either. This gap inspired Charlie's book and his approach to making strategy accessible beyond boardrooms and MBA programs. You'll walk away with Charlie's "12 people exercise" using post-it notes to surface strategic misalignment, a stakeholder mapping framework that reveals who you're wasting time on, and the discipline high-performing teams use to over-communicate (hint: Olympic teams, rugby squads, and military units do this naturally—corporate teams don't). GUEST BIO & LINKS Charlie Curson is a strategist, leadership coach, author, investor, facilitator, and OKR expert. He's the founder of Mandarin Associates, with 25+ years helping 250+ organizations across 30+ industries, from global giants like VISA and McDonald's to ambitious start-ups. Connect with Charlie: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/charliecurson Website: www.teammandarin.com Book: "Be More Strategic: 12 Essential Practices to Build the Life and Career You Want" (Available November 6th) - Join the waitlist: https://www.teammandarin.com/be-more-strategic-book Future Agenda: www.futureagenda.org ABOUT THE SHOW Chief Story Officer is a podcast about how stories drive strategy, not just communication. Host Rob D. Willis talks with executives and thought leaders about the moments where the right message changed everything. Real stories. Real impact. Ever…

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## Transcript

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