This was a great video that emphasised that strategic thinking is the business of everyone in an organisation, not only the people at the top or Board Members.  To develop a viable and meaningful strategic plan you need to know where you want to go but also it is important to be data driven, hypothesis driven and work collaboratively.  In other words come up with lots of ideas if how to get there (perhaps by brainstorming), use the data at hand to support or reject these ideas and pull in people from across the organisation who will have the necessary variety of different skills and expertise required to ensure success.  It is also important to be flexible, change the route map along the way (if required) and engage in both long term and short term strategy and understand the thinking required for each.

Good overview of how to approach strategy. I can connect to the comment of everyone in the organisation can help to influence strategy. As FD of the company it is important to listen to others around you in all levels of the business.

Really took on the point that unless you are aware of what is going on outside of your organisation you are irrelevant. You need to be aware of the macro environment.

Strategy is everybody's business, everyone in a business from administration to top level directors have an influence on the businesses strategy and development process.
If everyone is involved at all levels the business will ultimately benefit from this with lots of ideas brought forward from all parts of the company formally and informally.