There has been great deal of attention given to the subject of Exit Strategy in recent weeks, in relation to the release of lockdown measures imposed to restrict the spread of Covid-19.

“What is the exit strategy” translates, in layman’s terms, to “how do we get ourselves out of this” ?

Word selection plays an interesting role in communicating the response to the “exit strategy” challenge. Use of “what” rather than “how” suggests that strategy can be defined as a series of aspirations (goals or objectives). Whilst objectives set the context against which strategy is defined, the specification of objectives is not strategy. Rather strategy defines “how” those objectives are to be achieved. This requires deeper consideration of the options and implications associated with alternative approaches, followed by selection of a preferred option that balances risk and reward. Furthermore, if objectives are to be achieved, the preferred option needs to be translated into a series of tasks, complete with commitment to timescales by accountable personnel i.e. a plan. Only when this is done can there be confidence that the objective and the actions required to deliver it are connected.