April 20, 2023 | By David M. Wagner

“I wish I could be more strategic. But I just don’t have time!”

I hear laments like this from a lot of mission-driven leaders. I have a lot of empathy for these over-worked, under-resourced individuals, most of whom are wearing multiple hats and fighting multiple crises.

But when we let day-to-day demands push out any time and energy for big-picture thinking, we do our missions, our teams, and ourselves a disservice.

Not having time to think strategically is like saying, “I wish I had time to figure out where we’re going, but I’m too busy driving this car!” Maybe it’s time to pull over and figure out (or even ask for) some directions?

Here are three habits you can adopt to be more strategic and guide your team to even greater mission success.

Set the Course, Communicate the Vision

To accomplish meaningful outcomes, your team needs direction. Give them a map.

The bigger the team or the changes required, the more work this will take. But spending even just a few hours thinking about the future can pay huge dividends by clarifying your goals.

Sound strategic direction should convey:

• A compelling vision for the future, rooted in the organization’s values,

• Links between that vision and team members’ efforts,

• Clear priorities, and

• Measurable goals to drive action.

Write these down. And then frequently reiterate what’s important and why, so that team members can bring innovation to carrying out your mission.

Keep your Finger on the Pulse

Hopefully you check your fuel and tire pressure before a big road trip, and occasionally check your instruments while driving.

Likewise, strategic leaders know their team’s status and closely monitor progress.

Your team has the best insight into what’s working and what’s not. Create a culture of feedback by regularly asking for and following through on input. This encourages staff to proactively share key information. Regular feedback also helps you detect resistance to change. Listen for phrases like, “but we’ve always done things that way.”

Use formal and informal metrics to track progress against strategic goals. A good schedule is to check on goal status monthly and limit major updates to goals to once a year.

Use Your Time Intentionally

Make plans for scheduled maintenance!

Regain the time you need to think and act strategically by being intentional with your time.

Use your calendar to your advantage. Dedicate time each month for thinking about the big picture. Schedule weekly working time for important-but-not urgent tasks. In chaotic environments, make a daily allotment for unexpected “crisis management.”

Recover even more time by fighting fewer fires. Rather than solving your team’s problems, coach them to find their own solutions. Delegate. And learn to triage which fires to fight, and which to let burn.

When was the last time you “pulled over” and thought about where your team was going? If you’re waiting for an exit sign, here it is! Schedule a free consultation to get help with charting a new course.