Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 23 – The Octopus Approach To AI

Key Quotes

“AI has the ability to free up so much time that’s spent gathering and processing information. The real promise is giving people more time to coach, collaborate, and connect.”

“AI creates a fluidity of information—like a neural necklace in an octopus—enabling coordination but also potential dysfunction if left unmanaged.”

“AI brings intelligence and rapid action to the edge of the organization, empowering frontline teams while keeping decisions within smart guardrails.”

“In AI-infused workplaces, middle managers move from spending 25% of their time with people to 65%. That’s a massive unlock of capability.”

“Great ideas are easy if you start with great questions.”

Practice Makes Profit

Rich challenges leaders to take a strategic pause and think about their career evolution — not just where they are, but where they want to go. He outlines a simple framework used with executives to guide this reflection. Rich reminds listeners that effective leaders design their future, building each career move as a deliberate step toward their end game.

League of Strategic Minds

This listener’s question: “What should a one-page business plan include?”

Rich recommends creating a StrategyPrint — a clear, one-page snapshot of how your business creates value. He also suggests including your purpose, mission, vision, and values at the top to keep your plan anchored in intent. Listeners can submit their own questions at StrategySkills.com for a chance to be featured — and win some Strategic Minds swag.

Winsights: Ideas for Advantage

Rich closes with a Winsight — an idea for advantage — from Cal Henderson, co-founder of Slack, who asks:

“What are the things that are most strategically important — and am I allocating my time to them correctly?” It’s easy for leaders to get lost in the weeds. Rich reminds teams to step back and structure their discussions around what truly drives the business forward.

If your meetings are filled with tactics, your organization will stay tactical. Strategy begins with how you spend your time.

References 

Time stamps:

(00:00) Deep Dive Interview with Stephen Wunker

(42:38) Practice Makes Profit

(45:18) League of Strategic Minds

(46:49) Winsights: Ideas for Advantage

Links

Submit a question for Rich to the League of Strategic Minds

Stephen Wunker on LinkedIn

Rich Horwath on LinkedIn
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Rich Horwath on Instagram
Strategic Thinking Institute Website
Inc. Magazine’s Top 4 book for 2024: STRATEGIC  Book
New executive development platform: Strategic Fitness System
Sign up for Rich’s free Strategic Thinker Newsletter

About the Guest 

Stephen Wunker
Innovation Strategist, Author, and Managing Director at New Markets Advisors

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About the Host 

Rich Horwath, Founder & CEO
Strategic Thinking Institute  

Rich is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books on strategic thinking, including his most recent work, STRATEGIC, which was named a “top 4 must-read business book for 2024” by Inc. Magazine, and a national bestseller by USA TODAY. He has been the top rated keynote speaker on strategic thinking at national conferences for nearly 20 years.