Strategy Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All: Why Context Matters More Than Any Blueprint

In my experience—nearly 15 years in the social impact sector working with numerous organizations in various capacities, from director to executive, and even board officer—when it comes to building effective strategies, there’s no magic formula. You’ve probably seen plenty of frameworks, best practices, and case studies that promise success if you just follow a proven model. But here’s the truth: what works for one organization, community, or movement won’t necessarily work for another. Context is everything.

And let’s be real—the rigid, top-down approach to strategy is a byproduct of white supremacy culture. The idea that there’s only one right way to do things, that organizations must adhere to “proven” (read: traditionally white, male, Western, and elite-driven) strategies, and that flexibility is a weakness rather than a strength—all of this is rooted in an oppressive mindset that stifles innovation and limits who gets to thrive. If we want to build truly equitable, impactful movements and organizations, we need to let go of these harmful constraints and embrace strategy as a dynamic, evolving process.

The best strategies aren’t just well-designed on paper; they’re built to fit the real-world conditions of the people and places they serve. That’s why it’s critical to treat strategic “blueprints” as guides, not rigid playbooks. The most impactful leaders and organizations know how to adapt, pivot, and make decisions that align with both their vision and the unique realities they’re navigating.

Why Context Should Shape Strategy

Every organization and initiative exists within a distinct ecosystem. Economic factors, cultural norms, policy landscapes, and community history all play a role in whether a strategy will succeed. Too often, organizations invest time and resources into plans that look great in theory but fail in practice because they weren’t built with context in mind. Here’s why that happens:

➡️ Local Realities Dictate What’s Possible: What works in a well-funded organization with strong infrastructure may not translate to a grassroots movement operating on limited resources. Strategies must be grounded in the real conditions of the people doing the work.

➡️ Stakeholders Have Unique Needs and Perspectives: Whether you’re engaging funders, community members, or internal teams, their buy-in is critical. A strategy that doesn’t reflect their lived experiences or priorities won’t get the traction it needs.

➡️ The Landscape is Always Shifting: Social, economic, and political factors change constantly. A strategy that doesn’t leave room for flexibility and adaptation can quickly become outdated.

➡️ Best Practices Aren’t Universal Solutions: While it’s helpful to learn from successful models, what worked elsewhere may not be the right fit for your situation. A good strategy is tailored, not copied.

Blueprints Should Guide, Not Limit You

Strategic blueprints—whether they come from industry reports, consultants, or thought leaders—are helpful resources, but they should never be treated as rigid rules. Instead, they should serve as inspiration, helping you think through possibilities while leaving room for customization. To make blueprints work for you, keep these principles in mind:

👍 Make It Your Own: Use frameworks as a starting point, but adapt them to fit your mission’s values, goals, and constraints.

👍 Prioritize Learning Over Perfection: Strategy isn’t about getting it right the first time; it’s about refining and improving based on what you learn.

👍 Center the Voices That Matter Most: The people closest to the work—staff, community members, and partners—should have a say in how strategy is developed and adjusted.

👍 Be Ready to Pivot: Flexibility is a strength. If something isn’t working, shift gears instead of forcing a plan that no longer makes sense.

What High Impact Visionaries Do Differently

The best leaders understand that strategy is more art than science. They balance structure with flexibility and recognize that success comes from adapting to challenges, not resisting them.

Here’s how great leaders approach strategy:

📝 They listen more than they assume. They take time to understand the context before making big decisions and question their own assumptions with collective input.

📝 They empower their teams to innovate. They create space for creative problem-solving rather than enforcing rigid plans to maintain control or credit.

📝 They value progress over perfection. They’re comfortable making adjustments as new information comes in and explore risks rather than avoid them.

Make It Personal

At the end of the day, strategy should be a living, breathing process—not a tokenized document. The strongest organizations and leaders stay adaptable, ensuring that their work remains relevant and impactful no matter what changes come their way.

But this work doesn’t start at the organizational level—it begins with embodying a personal practice of curiosity, self-awareness, and empathy. Challenging the status quo means first recognizing how deeply ingrained biases—especially those shaped by white supremacy culture—show up in our own thinking. Are we defaulting to rigid structures because they feel familiar? Are we valuing efficiency over relationships? Are we assuming expertise should come from traditional (still often white-led) institutions rather than lived experience? These are the kinds of subconscious biases we must interrogate, unravel, and deconstruct daily. By leaning into curiosity instead of certainty, we create space for new ways of thinking, leading, and building.

For those looking to dig deeper, resources like Dismantling Racism Works provide critical insights into how white supremacy culture manifests in organizations and how to shift toward more equitable, inclusive practices. Other foundational readings include Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villanueva, Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brown, and Tema Okun’s framework on white supremacy culture. Investing in this internal work ensures that the strategies we create aren’t just effective—they’re transformational.

At MRL Strategies, we help organizations build smart, anti-racist, context-driven strategies that actually work in the real world. Don’t get me wrong, as a strategist, I love an effective tool or template; if you’re ready to move beyond generic blueprints and develop a plan tailored to your vision and reality, let’s talk. Liberation and impact require a strategy that evolves with you. Let’s co-create a better path forward.