In the past few weeks, I’ve been involved in discussions on what is strategy – and why do some people struggle with it? I work in a strategic role but have had to work hard to pry myself away from tactical, operational work (not completely successfully).
Strategy is about viewpoint, leading to assessment of, and orientation to, a situation. it is impossible to think about things strategically if you are only looking at the situation tactically.
The map is not the territory
“A map is not the territory it represents, but if correct, it has a similar structure to the territory, which accounts for its usefulness”
Strategic thinking is like having a map. It is important to separate ‘big picture’ from ‘fine detail’ as part of your approach. This is the first step to strategy.
When you take a strategic view, you aren’t on the ground looking at trees, you are trying to understand the wood. Having on the ground info that the wood is mainly made up of oak and birch trees won’t make a jot of difference to your initial planning.
Seeing the wood isn’t enough, you have to see the context of the wood. Is it large or small? Is it on a hill, or in a valley? Does a river run through it? What lies beyond the wood?
Maps help us take a strategic viewpoint. Need to get from point A to point B with that wood in the way, a map will help you plan the best rough approach to take. At a strategic level of detail, the context of the wood is more important than the fine detail of what trees make up the wood.
It is a sure sign that someone is failing to be strategic when they focus primarily on fine details. In a work environment you may have some one who is seen as a safe pair of hands, a completer-finisher. You can put good money down that they will struggle with strategic thinking.
Strategy is about the destination, tactics is about the journey.
Strategists are looking towards the destination, not necessarily knowing every twist and turn along the way but paying attention to the information they have to hand (observation), putting it into context (orientation), understanding where the plan needs to change, committing to those changes (decision) and getting the changes to happen (action).
The core strategic elements of this process are the Orientation and Decision phases. Information gathering and action may be undertaken by non-strategic staff, but effective decision-making happens a level above this.
This process, known as the OODA loop, is the key to successful strategic thinking. It encourages a crucial set of behaviours:
- Awareness
- Decisiveness
- Understanding the big picture
- Processing changes in situation
- Creatively assessing plans based on that changing situation
- Working with others to develop and communicate change
- Trust in the plan and the people around you
- Ability to lead
The last is the big hitter – leadership doesnt happen without strategy. Trying to lead from a position of tactics only, incomplete understanding of the big picture or no understanding of the destination or direction leads to The Charge of the Light Brigade.
How can you become more strategic?
- Focus on a goal, not a process. Processes are there to allow people to accomplish complex tasks without having to think.
- Understand factors that can have an impact on your strategy and how they interconnect. Strategic thinking is about understanding connections between things, not getting fixated on the things themselves.
- Understand who you work with and where their strengths are. Knowing your team is critical when it comes to gathering information, and delegating tasks.
- Listen to the feedback from the people around you. They have detail, but only part of the picture. Your job is to understand the big picture and communicate what is need to allow people to make the right decisions. Communicate your goals effectively and trust the people on the ground to accomplish them. Keep updated and use new information to change the plan if needed.
- Be willing to change – and willing to explain why. Change doesn’t make it look like you were wrong. It makes it look like you are on top of things. Don’t be afraid to change.
- Remember that a destination is only a way point. Once you reach it, OODA loop and move again.
