--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best strategy is a balance between…" description: "\"The best strategy is a balance between having a deliberate one, and a flexible, or emergent strategy.\" — Clayton Christensen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/clayton-christensen-2433_balance_the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-h_902363.png" --- # The best strategy is a balance between having a deliberate… ![“The best strategy is a balance between having a deliberate one, and a flexible, or emergent strategy.” quote by Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/clayton-christensen-2433_balance_the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-h_902363.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/clayton-christensen-2433_balance_the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-h_902363.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/clayton-christensen-2433_balance_the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-h_902363.png) > “The best strategy is a balance between having a deliberate one, and a flexible, or emergent strategy.” [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective strategy blends deliberate planning with flexibility to adapt to change. **In simple terms:** Combine fixed plans with adaptable tactics. Key Takeaway Balance structure and agility. Themes strategy innovation adaptability Mood analytical pragmatic Type business strategic When to use this quote - product development - market entry - organizational change Key Concepts Deliberate planning emergent processes Questions to Reflect On - When should a plan be revised? - How to maintain core vision while adapting? A Different Perspective Too much flexibility can cause drift. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Best Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-strategy-1069756/) [Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate/) [Deliberate Flexible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deliberate-flexible-1254240/) [Emergent Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emergent-strategy-218761/) [Flexible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flexible/) [Having Deliberate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-deliberate-1254241/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Strategy Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy-balance-1254239/) ## Related quotes > [Do not analyze things to death. Sometimes the best strategy is, "Ready, fire, aim." Do it first , then make adjustments. The answer lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/do-not-analyze-things-to-death-sometimes-the-best-strategy-is-ready/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) > [The best strategy is one that offers the highest compound return consistent with no risk of going broke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-poundstone/the-best-strategy-is-one-that-offers-the-highest-compound-return/) [William Poundstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-poundstone/) > [..the best strategy for giving is a two-fold approach: a basic plan combined with a willingness to consider spontaneous giving when unique opportunities arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/the-best-strategy-for-giving-is-a-two-fold-approach-a-basic-plan/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [The best strategy for building a competitive organization is to help individuals become more of who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/the-best-strategy-for-building-a-competitive-organization-is-to-help/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Obviously my best strategy is to wait, listen, and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-starlin/obviously-my-best-strategy-is-to-wait-listen-and-learn/) [Jim Starlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-starlin/) > [The best strategy is always to be very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-best-strategy-is-always-to-be-very-strong/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Faith in yourself, in your friends, in your colleagues and most of all, faith in your ability to impact our future is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/faith-in-yourself-in-your-friends-in-your-colleagues-and-most-of-all/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [It is necessary to develop a strategy that utilizes all the physical conditions and elements that are directly at hand. The best strategy relies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/it-is-necessary-to-develop-a-strategy-that-utilizes-all-the-physical/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [The strategy to beat Shevchenko would be to work non-stop and be all over her, striking the entire time, grabbing her to tire her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-andrade/the-strategy-to-beat-shevchenko-would-be-to-work-non-stop-and-be-all/) [Jessica Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-andrade/) > [“Even the best strategy sometimes yields bad results—which is why computer scientists take care to distinguish between “process” and “outcome.” If you followed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-christian/even-the-best-strategy-sometimes-yields-bad-results-which-is-why/) [Brian Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-christian/) > [What do you want to get done? In what order of importance? Over what period of time? What is the time available? What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-do-you-want-to-get-done-in-what-order-of-importance-over-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best strategy relies upon an unlimited set of responses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/the-best-strategy-relies-upon-an-unlimited-set-of-responses/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [In our lives and in our careers, whether we are aware of it or not, we are constantly navigating a path by deciding between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/in-our-lives-and-in-our-careers-whether-we-are-aware-of-it-or-not-we/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) ## More by Clayton Christensen > [But actually theory is very practical. Gravity is a theory, for example. It allows you to predict that if you step off a cliff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/but-actually-theory-is-very-practical-gravity-is-a-theory-for-example/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [In our lives and in our careers, whether we are aware of it or not, we are constantly navigating a path by deciding between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/in-our-lives-and-in-our-careers-whether-we-are-aware-of-it-or-not-we/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [Many of the factors that we think will cause motivation, such as fair pay and a good manager, won't make you love your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/many-of-the-factors-that-we-think-will-cause-motivation-such-as-fair/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [People in private equity complain that they have so much capital and so few places to invest. But you have lots of entrepreneurs trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/people-in-private-equity-complain-that-they-have-so-much-capital-and/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [If you're successful and growing, you can manage any way you want to. Growth makes so many dimensions of management easier. It's when growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/if-you-re-successful-and-growing-you-can-manage-any-way-you-want-to/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [A sustaining innovation makes better products that you can sell for better profits to your best customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/a-sustaining-innovation-makes-better-products-that-you-can-sell-for/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [Purpose must be deliberately conceived and chosen, and then pursued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/purpose-must-be-deliberately-conceived-and-chosen-and-then-pursued/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [The mistake that makes launching a venture expensive is when you try to make a disruptive technology so good that it can compete on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-mistake-that-makes-launching-a-venture-expensive-is-when-you-try/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [What you need is a fundamental humility - the belief that you can learn from anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/what-you-need-is-a-fundamental-humility-the-belief-that-you-can-learn/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [This is why I belong, and why I believe. I commend to all this same search for happiness and for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/this-is-why-i-belong-and-why-i-believe-i-commend-to-all-this-same/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [I think this is one reason why the Lord invented the Internet - so members can teach one another how to succeed in assignments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/i-think-this-is-one-reason-why-the-lord-invented-the-internet-so/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [Because these firms listened to their customers, invested aggressively in new technologies that would provide their customers more and better products of the sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/because-these-firms-listened-to-their-customers-invested-aggressively/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [At the beginning of almost every industry, the available products and services are so expensive to own and complicated to use that only people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/at-the-beginning-of-almost-every-industry-the-available-products-and/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [Management has to provide the coordinating mechanism between what the supplier provides and what the user needs in not-good-enough situations where product architecture is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/management-has-to-provide-the-coordinating-mechanism-between-what-the/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [When you're thinking about your next product or current product and wondering how to make it different so you don't have competition, understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/when-you-re-thinking-about-your-next-product-or-current-product-and/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) [Explore all 166 Clayton Christensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) ## More Balance quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“We don't need to strive towards balance, we rather need to work on the obstacles that are preventing the natural flow of balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-alebraheem/we-don-t-need-to-strive-towards-balance-we-rather-need-to-work-on-the/) [A.A. Alebraheem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-alebraheem/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [Once you've gotten your money in balance, you know how much you have to spend on things that are just fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/once-you-ve-gotten-your-money-in-balance-you-know-how-much-you-have/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I never understood how much running changes your life. I'm now obsessed. When not trying to beat my personal best, I'm talking to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-never-understood-how-much-running-changes-your-life-i-m-now/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whatever needed to be done, I need to know how to do it just as well as my wife. You know, for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/whatever-needed-to-be-done-i-need-to-know-how-to-do-it-just-as-well/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't think my parents would have let me go straight into acting full time when I was 12. I do like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-don-t-think-my-parents-would-have-let-me-go-straight-into-acting/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [When it comes down to music, I have no balance. I am 100 percent. It is like full throttle. Five hundred miles an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-it-comes-down-to-music-i-have-no-balance-i-am-100-percent-it-is/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) [Browse all 5,166 Balance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The best strategy is a balance between having a deliberate one, and a flexible, or emergent strategy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Clayton Christensen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-having-a-deliberate-one-and-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-having-a-deliberate-one-and-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/clayton-christensen-2433_balance_the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-h_902363.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/clayton-christensen-2433_balance_the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-h_902363.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e9/clayton-christensen-2433_balance_the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-h_902363.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The best strategy is a balance between having a deliberate one, and a flexible, or emergent strategy.” — Clayton Christensen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Clayton Christensen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The best strategy is a balance...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-having-a-deliberate-one-and-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-best-strategy-is-a-balance-between-having-a-deliberate-one-and-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```