[One Sip of a Book] The Meaning of Seeing Things As They Are

Lenart Witbei 'Swedish-style Strategic Thinking'

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly reach the reader’s heart, creating a connection with the book. We introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor’s note

Strategy is required in every domain. Not only for companies but also for individuals’ lives, strategy is necessary. The author, who developed strategies to enhance trust for 30 years at Sweden’s most trusted National Tax Agency, unfolds the philosophy of strategy in this book. A strategist is not someone who provides perfect methods or solutions but someone who thinks differently according to the situation, judges, and acts accordingly. The author says, “There are no simple rules or shortcuts needed to create strategy and think strategically; anyone can engage in strategic thinking through the continuous development and revision of their own mental models.”

To see things as they are means, as mentioned earlier, to acknowledge the fact that there is no easy way to solve the problems we have. If someone tells us there is an easy solution, that person either truly does not know or is not honest. The reason such a solution cannot exist is that the world is diverse, complex, and always changing. If we assume the world we live in is fixed and unchanging, the story might be different. But the real world is the opposite. 25

Investor and philanthropist George Soros has thought deeply about reflexivity and said it was the foundation of his success. He stated that every human being always holds a limited and partially incorrect image of the world. Because we have an imperfect worldview, we cannot choose the optimal action. For example, if drug addiction is treated as a crime, addicts become criminals. Misunderstanding the cause of a problem inevitably leads to wrong measures. Reflexivity refers to the mutual influence between our thoughts and actions and the world. Lack of understanding of the world leads to wrong responses, causing unexpected effects that eventually lead to an even more unpredictable world. 82

Strategic thinking is more than just perspective and attitude. Accepting the fact that there is no precise definition or boundary?and even being grateful for it?makes better strategic thinking possible. When we accept that the world is complex and multifaceted, we can see things as they truly are more easily. Such a person will understand more than those who think they have all the answers. The key to strategic thinking is understanding and changing our own mental models. Then, it becomes easier to understand others’ mental models as well. 228

(Swedish Strategic Thinking | Lennart Witbey | Translated by Kim Ji-yeon | Yemi)