Do you struggle with strategy? Are you unsure how to do it well? Mike Baxter, one of our leading authorities on strategic thinking, demystifies strategy and provides a step-by-step guide on making it robust, agile and fit-for-purpose. The Strategy Manual draws on Mike’s many years of expertise and thought leadership, delivering an accessible, practical handbook for anyone interested in the creation, management or governance of strategy. The book provides readers, at any level of experience and in any sector, with Mike’s valuable insights and innovative models and frameworks that help breathe life into strategy and embed it in the day-to-day actions of all those who will contribute to its ultimate success.
“All too often, strategy is over-complicated or under-utilised. In this book, Mike hits both challenges head on, making core tenets of strategy simple, but more importantly, actionable. As a seasoned practitioner, who’s worked with an enviable roster of clients, there’s no theory here - he’s making the mental models and methodologies that you’d normally expect from tier-one management consultancies available to everyone.” Jake Hird, VP Strategy (APAC), Merkle.
“It’s very readable, personable and I can hear Mike’s voice really well with all the years of experience and thoughtfulness loud and clear.” Gideon White, Director of Strategic Planning, University of East London.
Mike Baxter has been awarded a PhD in Science, a personal Professorship and Chartered Designer status. He has enjoyed a variety of careers: trawlerman, animal welfare scientist, product designer, higher education college dean, web entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker, business thought-leader and company director. He has been a business consultant since 2001 for some of the world's biggest brands (e.g. Cisco, Google, HSBC, Lilly, Skype, Sony PlayStation) and a long-term advisor to some of London's fastest growing tech start-ups.
Mike is, therefore, in a great position to resolve the challenges surrounding strategy success. As a scientist, he thinks from first principles and builds theories and models to turn principles into practicalities. As a designer, he can visualise and illustrate strategic models, making sense of them in terms of their component parts and how they inter-connect. As a psychologist, he understands cognitive biases, knows how to manage their influence and recognises that engagement and commitment from front-line teams are essential for strategic success. And finally, as an expert consultant, business advisor and company director, he is a hands-on strategist, able to turn principles into practice, ensuring the effectiveness and success of strategy in a wide range of circumstances.
Mike lives with his family in a houseboat on the River Thames in West London.
