207: The Signs Your Company Has a Strategy Problem...and Doesn't Even Know It | John Hillen

Release Date:
Written By damon lembi

Dr. John Hillen, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, multi-time CEO, board chairman, and award-winning strategy professor, brings decades of global leadership experience to this conversation on what strategic thinking really means. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and John Hillen explore why only 4% of leaders naturally think strategically, the difference between “strategic planning” and “strategic thinking,” and how to build the muscle that will transform the way you lead.

Read the full breakdown of John Hillen’s episode on Learnit.

Key Leadership Lessons from John Hillen’s Journey:

  • Strategic thinking ≠ strategic planning. True leaders make strategy a habit, not an annual exercise.

  • The 4% mindset. Only a small fraction of executives map the ecosystem, spot patterns, and connect the dots—anyone can learn to join them.

  • Your customers know your core strength better than your marketing team. Ask them to uncover the real competitive advantage.

Connect with John Hillen:

John is a best-selling author, strategy professor, and leadership advisor whose work spans the military, government, academia, and corporate boardrooms. His insights have been featured by thought leaders like Patrick Lencioni and rooted in decades of lived experience.

Explore more episodes of The Learn-It-All Podcast on Learnit.com to gain leadership insights from top experts.

Learn more about how Learnit helps organizations and follow The Learn-It-All Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.

damon lembi
Previous

208: The 3 Overlooked Skills That Turn Average Managers into Great Leaders | Damon Lembi
Next

206: How To Work From Anywhere! Without Feeling Disconnected | Michelle Coulson