Why the Right Strategy Might Feel Slightly Out of Reach

Michael Carter, Andrei Flueraru — May 15, 2025

When it comes to strategic planning, aiming high isn't just okay — it can be a powerful catalyst for change.

In our work, we often encourage clients to set bold goals, because ambition unlocks something that realism alone won’t: energy, alignment, and forward momentum.

Stretch drives success

Conventional planning often starts with constraints — budgets, headcount, legacy systems — and works forward. But transformative strategies start by asking: What does success look like if nothing holds us back? That’s where tools like scenario planning and our Narrative method come in.

Scenario Planning

Scenario planning helps leadership teams explore multiple future possibilities — often with different levels of risk, speed, or focus. By deliberately stretching perspectives and pressure-testing assumptions, we uncover tensions, trade-offs, and unexpected opportunities. The final strategy is often a hybrid — stronger because it blends the best elements from each scenario, shaped by rich dialogue and real alignment.

Narrative

Level5’s unique Narrative process is a written account of your desired future, imagined as if it’s already happened. What did you accomplish? What had to be true to get there? What did you stop doing — and what new capabilities did you build? The process itself — co-writing and editing the story as a leadership team — builds clarity, shared accountability, and genuine ownership. It helps leaders envision not only where they want to be, but what it will take to get there.

Ambition + Commitment = Action

Ambitious strategies are only valuable if they drive action. That’s why our focus isn’t just on helping clients define bold goals — it’s on building the alignment needed to prioritize collectively which bets to make to deliver the strategy.
It’s important to stay resolute about your ambitious goals but remain flexible in your approach to getting there. This is why mid-plan reviews are so important; a topic you can read about in another recent piece from Level5.
Ambitious strategies that are aligned to and drive action we call Strategies That Stick. And time and again, we’ve seen that even when clients fall a little short of their ambitious goals, they go farther than they ever would have by playing it safe.

The bottom line

Realistic plans deliver incremental progress. Ambitious plans — paired with the right process — create the conditions for real transformation.

At Level5 Strategy, an award-winning boutique management consulting firm trusted by leading organizations, we help businesses navigate challenges in strategic planning with the right tools and insights. Whether you’re exploring our unique narrative process or looking to strengthen your scenario planning capabilities, our experienced team delivers the solutions and hands-on support needed to drive lasting success. For more expert perspectives on strategy development, explore our latest thinking or connect with our consultants.

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