In business, as in fishing, success rarely happens by accident. You don’t catch the fish you want by dropping a random line and hoping for the best.
You study the conditions. You choose the right bait. You cast in the right place. Strategic leadership is no different.
Too often, businesses operate with outdated strategies, vague goals, or unclear positioning, then wonder why results are elusive.
It’s the equivalent of fishing in the wrong spot, with the wrong gear, at the wrong time of day. Hope is not a strategy.
According to PwC’s 2023 CEO Survey, 40% of global leaders believe their business won’t be economically viable in 10 years if it continues on its current path.
The game has changed, and leaders must change with it.
Like seasoned anglers, strategic leaders read the environment. They monitor shifts in market trends, competitor behaviour, and customer demand, just as a good fisher watches the tides, water temperature, and weather patterns. They don’t waste energy chasing fish that aren’t there.
They go where the opportunity is.
The bait matters too. Whether you’re fishing for barramundi or barracuda, the approach must be fit-for-purpose.
In business terms, this means aligning your value proposition, culture, and capabilities to the outcomes you want. Want high-performing talent? Then lead with purpose and clarity. Want premium clients? Position your offer and experience accordingly.
And when the fish aren’t biting? Strategic leaders know when to move. They don’t double down on what’s not working. They adapt, reset, and test new waters. That agility is what separates thriving organisations from those slowly drifting into irrelevance.
Harvard Business Review reports that companies with clear, agile strategies outperform competitors by 20% in profitability and 25% in market share. It’s not about volume of activity, it’s about strategic precision.
So if your current strategy isn’t yielding the results you want, don’t blame the fish. Check the conditions. Rethink the bait. Shift your position.
In business, as in fishing, you don’t catch what you want. You catch what you’re set up for, and the best leaders, they never cast without a plan.
RDL:- Results Driven Leadership
