Ah, that old chestnut. In my years of running programs on strategic thinking, this is a common thread I hear often. Many operational leaders receive feedback that they need to be ‘more strategic’.
Most people agree that in order to be an effective operational leader, you need to engage in opportunistic strategic decision making daily, if not hourly! So I often ask them a question. Are you being a strategic communicator as well as a strategic thinker?
Everyone has the potential to be a strategic thinker, but not everyone is a strategic communicator. We often do all of the strategic thinking in our heads, in a big whir, then get on with the solution quickly to resolve the problem. Without often taking the time to formally capture our strategic thinking, communicate and share it with others while inviting feedback to evolve and improve the thinking. In our fast paced, distracted workplaces, I hear another common phrase, ‘who has the time for that?’
It’s true. You can’t do this capture, share and iteration on all of the problems that come your way. However, if you take one or two strategic challenges and more formally capture, communicate and evolve your strategic thinking while bringing others along with you, people will notice that you are ‘strategic’. Particularly, if you are able to progress a resolution that is big picture, impact focussed and has a ripple effect of innovative improvements outside your team and across the organization.
This recent HRB article on 10 Ways to Prove You’re a Strategic Thinker provides useful tips for how you might do more of this.
Enjoy the read, and if you would like to explore more ways to effectively communicate and share strategic thinking for you and your team, book in a time for a chat with me on professional development and coaching options.
Until the next Adaptability Factor…
