Strategy lives in the trade-offs
A product strategy is not a document — it is the set of trade-offs the team makes every day. If the strategy does not help the team decide what not to build, it is not providing direction.
Connect strategy to execution explicitly
Every quarter, the strategy should produce concrete priorities. Every sprint, those priorities should determine what gets worked on. If there is a gap between strategy and sprint planning, the strategy is not being used.
Measure outcomes, not outputs
Shipping features is easy. Shipping features that move the business forward is hard. Define success metrics for each strategic initiative and check them regularly.
Revisit strategy quarterly
Markets change, user needs evolve, and new information emerges. A strategy that is reviewed annually is stale for most of the year. Build a rhythm for strategic review that matches the pace of the business.