Strategy formulation is the widely accepted approach to preparing an organisation for the future.

Yet the hours of contemplation and brainstorming by the company’s most senior leadership seldom yield an outcome that supports or drives tactical decision-making. Based on practical experience, this paper indicates how a formal document can be turned into a lived experience, where all team members in an organisation are empowered to support the strategic vision and navigate the changing market conditions effectively to keep the company on course.

Suggestions are made for the incorporation of a playbook, which refers to an indispensable decision-making guide that is continually updated as the company grows and the leaders learn. A good company playbook integrates four elements that make up the CAFE Framework™: Clarity, Accountability, Focus, and Energy. Clarity is about the three Ps that make up the business DNA, the key to astute decision-making; accountability invites all employees to take appropriate ownership, with the kind of support that sets them up for success; focus points everyone in the right direction, with real-time feedback on the impact of tactical decisions; and energy encourages everyone in the organisation to make a meaningful contribution, freeing up the company leadership to look ahead.