Definition

A Strategic Persona is the complete decision-making operating system of an individual in business contexts—their framework for evaluating ideas, communication patterns, intellectual triggers, and unconscious drivers.

Components

Observable Layer:

• Communication style and language patterns
• Public statements and documented positions
• Historical decision patterns

Hidden Layer:

• Core motivations and fears
• Unconscious decision criteria
• Strategic tensions and contradictions

The Difference from Psychology

Psychology seeks to understand why someone feels. Strategic Persona analysis seeks to predict what someone will do when the stakes are highest.

Case Example: Danny Thorpe’s analysis revealed his true driver wasn’t growth—it was “creating order through control.” This allowed prediction of his next strategic move with 100% accuracy.