Praise for Be More Strategic in Business

      If you’ve ever been told to “be more strategic” and wondered how to do it, this is the book for you.

      —Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times #1 bestselling author of Triggers and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

      This is the book that you’ve been searching for if you need to take your strategic leadership to the next level. Thomas and Boyle pare down an overwhelming process into six factors for making smart decisions and showing other leaders that you are a strategic peer. Even seasoned leaders will find gems of wisdom from two women who’ve built successful careers and are eager to share what they’ve learned.

      —Jan Fields, Former President, McDonald’s USA; on Forbes’ “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” and Fortune’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” lists

      Being more strategic is really about what it takes to be more effective and efficient, leading yourself and others to places you have never been before. Diana and Stacey are correct that this quest is an ongoing journey, which begins with exploring your inner territory before venturing out into the field. Their framework nicely blends the hard and soft skills (quantitative and qualitative) required to move beyond tactics, considering the essential question of “why?” The book comes alive through sharing their own personal journeys (especially hard lessons learned through mistakes), along with many practical illustrations and highlighted action steps.

      —Barry Z. Posner, PhD; Michael J. Accolti, S.J. Chair; Professor of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University; and co-author of The Leadership Challenge

      At a time when diversity of leadership is becoming a highly sought-after asset in the most powerful organizations, Thomas and Boyle give you the guide book to building your ladder of success. It doesn’t matter where you are today—this book will get you where you want to be tomorrow.

      —Rosina Racioppi, President and CEO, WOMEN Unlimited

      I’m more strategic and successful for having been coached by Diana and Stacey, so I was delighted to find lots of great personal examples throughout the book. The content lays out a clear path that will help any business leader learn how to strategically build out a plan for success with chapter takeaways and checklists that guide the process step by step, or rung by rung.

      —Alexandra Mustafa, Training Leader, Penske Motor Group

      In the book Be More Strategic in Business, the authors have created an excellent treatise of leadership behaviors to improve business outcomes. There are useable, actionable nuggets of information for leaders to employ right away.

      —Jack Groppel, PhD; Cofounder, Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, and Author, The Corporate Athlete

      In times of constant and accelerated change, the ways way we conduct business continue to evolve, but the need for strategic leadership will never go away. Thomas and Boyle are the coaches you need in your quest to become a top leader in your organization. Embrace the principles outlined in this book and bring strategic leadership to your organization today!

      —Jeanne C. Meister, Partner, Future Workplace and Co-author The Future Workplace Experience

      Connecting investments and meaningful business results is a challenge for many critical business functions. The Impact Blueprint provided by Thomas and Boyle is a powerful tool for aligning to the business and driving meaningful change.

      —Karen Kocher, Global General Manager, 21st Century Jobs, Skills and Employability, Microsoft

      By sharing the wisdom gained in their own successful careers as business leaders, Thomas and Boyle have created a practical guide for anyone who has been told they need to be more strategic.

      —Dennis Kennedy, Founder & Chair,

      National Diversity Council

      Be More Strategic in Business is packed with reminders, questions for reflection, and actionable advice from two leaders who have built their reputations on connecting to the business and driving winning results.

      —Gary Whitney, VP, Global Learning,

      Intercontinental Hotels Group

      This book demystifies the process of showing the outcomes of investments using a simple, practical tool, which we have successfully used to communicate with stakeholders and donors. However, it goes further than that, pulling together the many skill sets needed to successfully lead a thriving organization.

      —James Collins, Director, Learning and Advocacy at

      Greater Twin Cities United Way

      Leadership is both art and science, a combination of inspiring vision and relentless execution. In Be More Strategic in Business, Thomas and Boyle provide a compelling, modern leadership model that resonates in today’s rapidly changing world of work. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, this book is an invaluable roadmap to your leadership journey.

      —John Taggart, CEO, Human Capital Media, Publishers of Chief Learning Officer and Workforce

      If you can’t look and act strategic, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle to accomplish your business and career goals. Be More Strategic in Business gives you a framework for a leadership journey that will lead to long-term success.

      —Anna Wildermuth, CIM, ACC Founder and President of Personal Images, Inc.

      We tell leaders all the time to be results-oriented while also driving the management team from a shared vision of the strategic plan. Thomas and Boyle show you how to make a smart plan, and then shift into action so you can deliver!

      —Kray Kibler, CPA, MBA; CEO of Scrip Companies

      Be More Strategic in Business

      How to Win Through Stronger Leadership and Smarter Decisions

      Diana Thomas & Stacey Boyle

      Copyright © 2018 Diana Thomas and Stacey Boyle

      Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.

      Cover Design: Roberto Nunez

      Layout Design: Jermaine Lau

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      Be More Strategic in Business: How to Win through Stronger Leadership and Smarter Decisions

      Library of Congress Cataloging

      ISBN: (print) 978-1-63353-784-2