Ever wonder why some strategies stall or steer off course even with smart people at the helm?
It's rarely about intellect. More often, it comes down to human behaviour. Hidden biases and mental shortcuts can quietly sabotage even the best-laid plans.
If you're a business leader or consultant, understanding these mental models will help you spot the pitfalls early—and lead more effectively.
Parkinson's Law: Time Expands
"Work expands to fill the time available."
Give a team 6 months, and the work will take 6 months. Give them 6 weeks—and you'll often see similar output. More time usually invites more procrastination, not better quality.
Strategy takeaway: Set shorter, focused deadlines. Apply structured urgency. Tools like StratNav help you manage timelines and track progress effectively.
Goodhart's Law: When Metrics Mislead
"When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."
Just like exams can turn education into a grades race, KPIs can incentivise the wrong behaviours.
Strategy takeaway: Use multiple, balanced metrics. Focus on learning, not just numbers.
Curse of Knowledge: Keep It Simple
Experts often forget what it's like not to know. They skip crucial context, confuse teams, and make strategy seem inaccessible.
Strategy takeaway: Assume nothing. Make your strategy simple and shareable. Tools like StratNav help you build clear, communicable frameworks.
Bandwagon Effect: Beware Benchmarking
We copy competitors because it feels safer. But groupthink can lead to industry-wide stagnation.
Strategy takeaway: Benchmark, but don’t blindly mimic. Choose what aligns with your distinct strategic position.
Egocentric Bias: You're Not the Hero
In group projects, everyone thinks they did the hard part. Confidence becomes confused with contribution.
Strategy takeaway: Give credit freely. Use collaborative tools that track real contributions transparently.
Cynicism Bias: Smart or Just Defensive?
Cynicism often masquerades as intelligence. It's easier to criticise than to create.
Strategy takeaway: Encourage constructive critique, but champion optimism and experimentation.
Skinner's Law: System Over Motivation
You can either make it enjoyable or make not doing it painful.
But waiting for motivation is a losing game. Systems beat moods.
Strategy takeaway: Build routines into your strategy processes. Use StratNav to standardise execution.
Hofstadter's Law: It Always Takes Longer
"Everything takes longer than expected, even when you expect it to."
Even with buffers, delays creep in.
Strategy takeaway: Double your time estimates. Build contingency. Finish ahead.
Elon's Law: Set "Impossible" Deadlines
Set deadlines so tight they seem irrational. Even if you miss them, you'll outpace everyone else.
Strategy takeaway: Use stretch goals to energise your team. Monitor slippage, but don’t be afraid to move fast.
Loss Aversion: Fear Wins
People fear losing more than they enjoy gaining. That’s why they resist change.
Strategy takeaway: Frame new strategies as protection from future loss, not just pursuit of gain.
Hitchen's Razor: Demand Evidence
"What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."
Great ideas still need grounding. Gut feelings aren't strategy.
Strategy takeaway: Root your recommendations in data, not just opinion. StratNav supports structured evidence gathering.
Discomfort Zone Razor: Lean Into Hard Things
1,000 uncomfortable hours > 10,000 comfortable ones.
Growth lives in discomfort. Strategy is not meant to feel easy.
Strategy takeaway: Encourage teams to take on bold, unfamiliar challenges.
Occam's Razor: Simplify
"The simplest explanation is usually the right one."
Complexity is seductive but costly. Strategy thrives on clarity.
Strategy takeaway: Strip your strategy down to essentials. If it can’t be explained on one page, it might be too complex.
Hanlon's Razor: Malice or Misunderstanding?
"Never attribute to malice what can be explained by ignorance."
Mistakes usually come from bad systems, not bad actors.
Strategy takeaway: Investigate process failures before blaming people. Fix the root causes.
Final Thought
Which of these mental models have you seen sabotage a strategy? Which one do you want to master next?
Understanding these laws won't just make you a better strategist. It'll make you a better leader.
Ready to bring structure and rigour to your strategy?
→ Try StratNav for free.
→ Book a call to explore strategy consulting: chriscfox.com
