Unlock the Secrets to Successful Strategy – in Minutes. Join strategy expert Craig Lawrence in this powerful series of short, easy-to-follow films that cover everything you need to know about strategy. From understanding what strategy really means to applying the most effective strategic tools, frameworks and techniques, these videos are designed to help you develop clear, competitive and results-driven strategies for your organisation.

With years of experience advising organisations across public, private and nonprofit sectors, Craig breaks down complex concepts into practical insights you can apply immediately. Ready to think strategically and lead with impact? Start watching and transform the way you build strategy.

What is strategy?

In the first film of his new Quick Strategy series, strategy expert Craig Lawrence tackles the deceptively simple question: What is strategy? Exploring some of the most widely used definitions, he explains why he believes the most powerful way to understand strategy is as a coherent blueprint to bridge the gap between the realities of today and a desired future. He then unpacks this idea, revealing how the concept of a “strategy bridge” can transform the way we think about planning and decision-making.

Learn how seeing strategy as a bridge can help you unlock business growth and generate lasting competitive advantage.

Understanding alternative futures

In the previous episode, Craig Lawrence explained how the most effective strategies seize emerging opportunities and overcome future challenges to achieve a desired endstate. But to build such strategies, we must first ask: what kind of future might we be heading into? In this short strategy film, Craig explores the concept of alternative futures – possible scenarios that could shape the strategic landscape ahead. By understanding these potential futures, leaders can develop more resilient, adaptable and forward-looking strategies.

Watch just the first six minutes – we guarantee it will change how you think about the future (and strategy).

What are wicked problems?

In this short strategy film, strategy expert Craig Lawrence explores one of the biggest obstacles to effective strategy: wicked problems – complex, messy challenges that resist straightforward solutions. Alongside the uncertainty of the future, many strategies must grapple with issues that are deeply interconnected, politically charged and impossible to “solve” in the traditional sense. Craig unpacks the origins of the term ‘wicked problem’, drawing on the seminal work of Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber, and explains why recognising these challenges is essential for any strategist. He also draws on his own book ‘The Quick Guide to Effective Strategy’ to illustrate the points he is making.

If you’ve ever struggled with a problem that just won’t go away, this film is for you.

About Craig Lawrence

Craig Lawrence CBE is an internationally recognised strategy expert and strategic leadership consultant with a proven track record of helping organisations turn vision into reality. Commissioned into Britain’s Gurkhas in 1983, he spent over three decades in the British Army developing and executing high-level strategies, including for the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO operations in Afghanistan. Rising to the rank of Major General, Craig left the Army in 2016 to become Course Director at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) — the UK Government’s premier “strategy school.” There, he reshaped its flagship postgraduate program in strategic studies and leadership, making it one of the most sought-after career accelerators for senior executives worldwide.

Craig is the author of six books, including the UK Government guide Getting Strategy Right (Enough), and is a Fellow of the Institute of Consulting and the Chartered Management Institute. In 2020, he founded his own consultancy, where he advises global businesses, public sector organisations and nonprofits on strategic planning, leadership development and competitive advantage.

Today, Craig helps leaders and teams across industries design strategies that bridge the gap between current challenges and future success.