Welcome back to our journey towards becoming the Manager every organization and team craves to have, deserves to have. Today, I want to talk about the dangers of being overly tactical and super importance of becoming a strategist. I have often heard senior management remark, “He is good, but quite tactical. We need someone more strategic for this goal.” It’s unfortunate when a manager gets too caught up in doing the job well, in the day-to-day grind forgetting to work on making the job more impactful, larger, and more futuristic. Let’s not fall into that trap, my friends. As managers, I believe we should spend 70% of our time being tactical while allocating at least 30% of our time to be strategic. Let me share with you six simple practices I personally adopt to become a strategist.
- Uncover clues from within: While some organizations clearly communicate their strategic directions, this is quite rare. Therefore, it’s essential to hunt for clues. I carefully scan emails from top management, especially those sent quarterly or annually. Look out for keywords such as customer centricity, risk management, innovation, and sustainability. Filter out these words and ask yourself, “What can I do to align with these themes?”
- Seek guidance: Whenever I have the opportunity to meet senior management, I make it a point to ask, “What is that one thing you want us to focus on?” This provides valuable insights into our priorities.
- Listen to the voice of the customer: Make it a habit to ask both internal and external customers about their pain points and how we can exceed their expectations. Valuable suggestions can come from those who are in direct contact with customers.
- Benchmark and adopt best practices: There are various ways to achieve this. Connect with peers from best-in-class organizations using LinkedIn. Engage with them and learn about their unique approaches. Additionally, read white papers and search for the “latest trends in training and development,” “procurement,” or “customer happiness” on Google. You will be amazed at the valuable insights you discover.
- Stay connected with vendors: Maintain regular contact with vendors, particularly those providing technology solutions. Take the time to watch demos and inquire about what other organizations are buying and implementing.
- Analyze and optimize processes: Conduct a thorough analysis of your internal processes. Identify the flow of work, from when it comes in to when it leaves your department. Challenge yourself to find ways to make work faster and simpler.
By incorporating these seven simple and highly effective practices, you can elevate your department to greater heights while rebranding yourself as a futurist. When your organization seeks someone who is ideal for current and future roles, they will think of you.
Wishing you all the very best. If you have any additional suggestions on becoming a strategist, please feel free to share them in the comment section.
Thank you.
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