--- title: Is strategy and planning the same thing? description: How do you define strategic planning? Does strategy mean the same as planning? Executing on strategy is key to success. You have to get it right! image: https://extendedimpact.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20features%20a%20modern%2c%20sleek%20infographic%20divided%20into%20four%20quadrants%2c%20each%20illustrating%20a%20different%20concept%20related%20to%20strategy%20and%20planning.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/is-strategy-and-planning-the-same-thing#main-content) ![EIMG stone pyramid](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EIMG%20stone%20pyramid.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=EIMG%20stone%20pyramid.jpg) - [Home](https://extendedimpact.com/) - [About](https://extendedimpact.com/about) - [Contact](https://extendedimpact.com/contact) - [Services](https://extendedimpact.com/services) Show submenu for Services - [My Biz Dev Revenue Strategist](https://extendedimpact.com/services/my-bd-revenue-advisor) - [My Fractional Project Manager](https://extendedimpact.com/services/fractional-consulting) - [My Extended Enterprise](https://extendedimpact.com/services/quarterbacked-relations) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://extendedimpact.com/) - [About](https://extendedimpact.com/about) - [Contact](https://extendedimpact.com/contact) - [Services](https://extendedimpact.com/services) Show submenu for Services - [My Biz Dev Revenue Strategist](https://extendedimpact.com/services/my-bd-revenue-advisor) - [My Fractional Project Manager](https://extendedimpact.com/services/fractional-consulting) - [My Extended Enterprise](https://extendedimpact.com/services/quarterbacked-relations) - [Contact us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/don207/lets-connect) [Contact us](https://meetings.hubspot.com/don207/lets-connect) Jan 21, 2025 2:21:47 PM # Is strategy and planning the same thing? ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/is-strategy-and-planning-the-same-thing) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/is-strategy-and-planning-the-same-thing) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/is-strategy-and-planning-the-same-thing) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/is-strategy-and-planning-the-same-thing) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/is-strategy-and-planning-the-same-thing) Happy 2025! Here's wishing you much health, wealth, and happiness throughout this New Year and beyond. I've been on a bit of a hiatus from writing blog posts. Much to do personally and with clients. We still have some 5 principles to review, so look for these to come your way soon.  For today, I thought we might switch gears and talk strategy. This is a term that comes with many different definitions, depending on who you talk to. Much of my client work centers around strategy and I know how I look at and apply it. Lately, I've been reading LinkedIn posts that bring different perspectives to the subject. I thought it might be worthwhile to share a few of these short articles with you over the next few posts. This first blog post comes from Marc Sinukas. Connect with [Marc](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sniukas/). In his LinkedIn post, Marc gives credit to Alex Brueckmann. Connect with [Alex.](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderbrueckmann/) Here it is with a nice visual. Let me know what you think. ----------- **Forget "Strategic Planning"** Strategy and Planning are very different things. - Connect them the right way. - And link them to Foresight and Signaling. **FORESIGHT** ↳ LONG-TERM bets ↳ Identifies scenarios to shift the market ↳ Aims to create future market dominance Example: → Developing a new generation of processors **STRATEGY** ↳ MID-TERM choices ↳ The priorities to win in your chosen market ↳ Protects relevance and value creation Example: → Divesting a business division **PLANNING** ↳ SHORT-TERM plans ↳ Allocates budget to move strategy into action ↳ Connects strategy and operations Example: → Capturing who does what by when in a project plan; budget planning. **SIGNALING** ↳ IMMEDIATE reactions ↳ Informs your response to external events ↳ Safeguards operations Example: → Identifying alternative suppliers before looming conflicts disrupt supply chains. ![Image preview](https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/D4D22AQGzAsijqzxM3w/feedshare-shrink_2048_1536/feedshare-shrink_2048_1536/0/1732637229971?e=1740614400&v=beta&t=COBEAvPv72jyGc73UvBSok5G9zXY1MwDAZNZbyAEWRk) [Strategy](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/strategy) ## Related posts [![Strategy is clarity (credit to Nick Curum)](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Strategy%20is%20clarity.jpg?height=200&name=Strategy%20is%20clarity.jpg)](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-power-of-strategic-clarity) [Strategy](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/strategy), [Leadership](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/leadership), [Impact](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/impact) ## [The Power of Strategic Clarity](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-power-of-strategic-clarity) ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Feb 15, 2026 1:22:15 PM Why Getting Your Strategy Right is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage [Read more](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-power-of-strategic-clarity) [![Communicating strategy in action](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20vibrant%20corporate%20meeting%20room%20filled%20with%20diverse%20professionals%20engaged%20in%20a%20collaborative%20discussion.jpeg?height=200&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20vibrant%20corporate%20meeting%20room%20filled%20with%20diverse%20professionals%20engaged%20in%20a%20collaborative%20discussion.jpeg)](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-hardest-thing-in-strategy-is-not-strategy.-it-is-communication) [Strategy](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/strategy) ## [The hardest thing in strategy is NOT strategy. It is communication!](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-hardest-thing-in-strategy-is-not-strategy.-it-is-communication) ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Feb 12, 2025 3:09:48 PM Effective communication is central to every high performing enterprise. From the executive suite... [Read more](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-hardest-thing-in-strategy-is-not-strategy.-it-is-communication) [![](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20structured%20pyramid%20divided%20into%20three%20main%20sections%20Purpose%20at%20the%20top%2c%20Strategy%20in%20the%20middle%2c%20and%20Execution%20at%20the%20base.jpeg?height=200&name=The%20image%20depicts%20a%20structured%20pyramid%20divided%20into%20three%20main%20sections%20Purpose%20at%20the%20top%2c%20Strategy%20in%20the%20middle%2c%20and%20Execution%20at%20the%20base.jpeg)](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-strategy-pyramid) [Strategy](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/tag/strategy) ## [The Strategy Pyramid](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-strategy-pyramid) ![Picture of Don Stephenson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/ad16b434abce58fa4657cf2b515cc35f) [Don Stephenson](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson) Jan 28, 2025 12:57:09 PM Credit for this content and image goes to Igor Buinevici. You can connect with Igor. [Read more](https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/the-strategy-pyramid) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/in/donstephenson) - [Home](https://extendedimpact.com) - [About](https://extendedimpact.com/about) - [Contact](https://extendedimpact.com/contact) - [Services](https://extendedimpact.com/services) --- [![Logo](https://extendedimpact.com/hs-fs/hubfs/EIMG%20stone%20pyramid-1.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=EIMG%20stone%20pyramid-1.jpg "Logo")](https://extendedimpact.com/) 11 Parklands Dr., Unit 1227, Bluffton SC 29910 Email: [don@extendedimpact.com](mailto:don@extendedimpact.com)  Direct: (843) 940-7012 Copyright © 2026, Extended Impact Management Group LLC ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Don Stephenson", "url" : "https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/author/don-stephenson" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-21T19:22:04.212Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-21T19:21:47.000Z", "headline" : "Is strategy and planning the same thing?", "image" : [ "https://extendedimpact.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/The%20image%20features%20a%20modern%2c%20sleek%20infographic%20divided%20into%20four%20quadrants%2c%20each%20illustrating%20a%20different%20concept%20related%20to%20strategy%20and%20planning.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://extendedimpact.com/en/principle-impact/is-strategy-and-planning-the-same-thing", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://extendedimpact.com/hubfs/EIMG%20stone%20pyramid-1.jpg" }, "name" : "Extended Impact Management Group LLC" } } ```