FAQ​

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What's in the name ?

A simple, fast, reliable tool for navigating strategy.​​

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Why is Compass different ?

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​​​​​We think differently, perhaps even a new school of thinking - connecting and combining classical with cutting edge ideas on strategy from multiple sectors ; policy, corporate and military.

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​​​​On the right side of history ?

We believe strategies with ethical objectives will always prevail over competing strategies with unsound ethics.

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Do you work pro bono ?

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Whenever possible. It keeps us sharp..

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Strategy made simple ?

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Simplicity isn’t just the most effective way to communicate, it’s a way of thinking…

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“if I had more time I’d have written a shorter letter”​

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What's your definition of Strategy ?

Thanks for asking. Definitions are as varied as the growing number of consultants and consultancies - resulting in confusion and phrases like “strategic planning” (to be clear, a plan is not a strategy, it’s a “to do” list :-).

​We believe a strategy is an approach to an objective - how you think about what you do to achieve it.

Each of us has a strategy for what we do every day - it's just we rarely think about it. Strategy is a "meta-cognitive" process - "thinking about thinking". Crafting strategy involves not only thinking about how we should think to achieve an objective. ... but also thinking about the objective itself.​​​

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Curious ?

​​You may have noticed we consider "thinking about thinking" a fascinating discipline we're passionate about. If you'd like to dive deeper into the world of strategy we can recommend...​

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Roger Martin - focussed on corporate... superb underlying principles for policy work... and clients find his 10 min video on "Planning is NOT strategy" helpful on what is and isn't strategy.

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Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman primarily military... his book Strategy: A History is simply superb and this lecture a good summary. This  - non-readers and this lecture on it. This 5 min video is also helpful for untangling the seemingly never-ending confusion over strategy and planning.

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We're fans of Professor Richard Rumelt. Primarily corporate and as prolific as Roger Martin or Lawrence Freedman but a good starting place is his book "Good Strategy, Bad Strategy : The difference and why it matters". Here's Professor Rumelt lecturing on it and here's a decent summary.

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For geo-political risk analysis and insights we're fans of Ian Bremner's thinking, the work of his Eurasia Group and G-Zero media.

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Speaking of risk analysis, in these turbulent times, we're fans of The Einstein Institute and their founder, Gene Sharpe's non-violent strategy for challenging over-zealous dictators. Interestingly, although the military have known this for as long as war's been waged, it was Emile Simpson (hailed as "the new Clausewitz") who highlighted that violent acts should be treated as communication. His book "War from the ground up" is another favourite.

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What's going on

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G-zero media

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Al Monitor

Memri | Middle East Media Research Institute

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Strategy made simple ?

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Simplicity isn’t just an effective way to communicate, it’s a way of thinking… “if I had more time I’d have written a shorter letter”

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The considerations behind strategy are often extremely complex - balancing public opinion, economic conditions, cultural values and geo-politics can be migraine-inducing at the best of times. We believe the process of simplifying complex thoughts is essential for getting to the essence of an issue.

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Have you any useful links which give an overview

Your approach is a non-violent weapon.

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The rise in recognition of the importance of strategy has led to many different disciplines, confusion and complex definitions. We believe strategy should be simple. An approach to achieving your objective.

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What do you mean by "pure strategy?"

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“the discipline of setting out the real points concisely will prove an aid to clearer thinking”.

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Compass is different.

We only do strategy.

Decoupling execution means there's no possibility of a commercial agenda driving  tactics.

brings the best strategists in their fields

form for strategy specialists

Manifesto

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We believe

Pure Strategy

Moral Strategy

hat is Strategy ?

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