The Global Leadership Podcast Ep 203: How Leaders Use Strategy (with David Ashcraft)
Apr 8, 2026
David Ashcraft, President & CEO of the Global Leadership Network, is a seasoned leader who simplifies strategy. He discusses why strategy feels intimidating and how it differs from planning. He explains vision as the starting point and practical steps to move forward. He warns against perfectionism and advocates launching early, collaborating during execution, and refining as you go.
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Vacation Experiment Shows People Want A Plan
- David used family vacations to illustrate strategy: he planned everything and then experimented with having no plan, which quickly failed.
- His kids demanded a plan again, showing people often prefer clarity and direction even if they resist it at first.
Vision Precedes Strategy
- Vision must come before strategy: know where you're going before designing how to get there.
- David compares vision to a desired result and strategy as the route from current state to that future state.
Bring Stakeholders Into Strategy Creation
- Get buy-in: involve board, staff, and executive team when shaping vision and strategy.
- David cautions against a CEO drafting a plan alone because adoption requires shared ownership across stakeholders.