How can you use metaphors to effectively communicate a strategic vision to stakeholders?

Metaphors & similes make even complex subjects simpler to understand, which increases a subject's accessibility. Like Michelangelo seeing the statue in the marble block, your stakeholders will be better able to picture your strategic vision.

Metaphors, akin to poetic devices, weave a compelling narrative for stakeholders, transforming complex strategic plans into relatable tales. Picture your plan as a symphony; each department, an instrument playing in harmony. Just as a poet crafts layers of meaning, use metaphors to elucidate the layers of your strategy. The roadmap becomes a journey, obstacles mere mountains to conquer. It's a linguistic dance where stakeholders don't just understand; they resonate, envisioning the symphony of success orchestrated by your strategic prose.

Choosing the right metaphor can depend on the need. For example, some metaphors are intended to help educate on an otherwise complex topic (use a simple or everyday metaphor), to clarify to stakeholders that you are interested in an are where they have expertise (use metaphors from your own work) or possibly to add new insights for a possible solution (use a metaphor from an unrelated process to spark out of the box thinking). The metaphor that works to create a new solution is not necessarily the same one you would use to educate a new stakeholder, so you need to consider the context when you pick the way to best illustrate.

Was a business leader with a challenger our challenge was an insignificant marketing budget, very few stakeholders bet on us as we were in a hopeless position to compete with a tiny market share. we chose guerrilla marketing as a mode to attack market leaders selectively & and gain share quietly - we used a David vs Goliath type battle in the business world (metaphor so relevant for the company)

Using the metaphor of a "big bear vs agile" can effectively communicate the challenge of dealing with a large, potentially cumbersome issue (the big bear) versus a more nimble, flexible approach (agile). This metaphor illustrates the importance of agility and adaptability in tackling significant challenges, emphasizing how being quick, responsive, and adaptable (like being agile) can be advantageous in overcoming a large, slow-moving problem (the big bear). This visual and conceptual contrast helps stakeholders understand the need for a strategy that priorities agility over brute force or size - market leader vs challenger

Using metaphors needs care. Mixing different metaphors, like saying "hit a home run and keep ducks in a row," can confuse people. Using metaphors in a wrong way, such as comparing job cuts to "pruning branches," can seem uncaring. Using too many metaphors can make it hard to understand the real point. It's best to use metaphors that are easy to understand and fit well with who you're talking to, so your message is clear and doesn't upset anyone.