How can I be more strategic? This is one of the most common questions I hear from client leaders. It’s an important question as research tells us that strategic leaders are most effective and that being strategic is a key capability for career progression.
The Harvard Business Review cites a study that defines strategic thinkers as leaders who take a broad, long-range approach to problem-solving and decision-making that involves objective analysis, thinking ahead, and planning. Practically speaking, this means thinking in multiple timeframes and identifying goals in increments—or what has to happen now, in six months, a year, or three years. It also means thinking systemically and determining the impact of your strategy on every part of the organization.
The good news is that strategic thinking can be learned and developed. However, one simple yet significant obstacle to being more strategic is how you spend your time.
You can’t be a strategic thinker if you spend every day running to the next meeting, scrambling to meet four deadlines, and wearing the busy badge of courage. Thinking strategically takes time and space.
Thinking Strategically Takes Time and Space
Given his enormous success, Warren Buffett has to be one of the busiest people in the world. Yet, he is known for lots of white space on the calendar to learn and think. He reads a lot, and, as he says, anyone can do it. Most of us can’t clear our calendars to research and learn most of the day, but there is wisdom in this simple principle.
Being strategic takes ‘think time’ to see what doesn’t exist today, the possibilities, and the opportunities. Time to explore a new idea. Time to lift up and gain perspective that can’t be achieved in the 30-minute gap between back-to-back meetings. You undermine yourself if you can’t block at least a few hours once a week to pause, lift up, and look out from the day-to-day demands that will always feel more important.
You can accelerate your strategic thinking capability by making a few simple but essential changes to how you spend your time.
- Be very intentional with your time. Time is your greatest asset. How you spend it will determine your success and satisfaction in your work – and if you become a more strategic thinker. Treat your time with the greatest respect.
- Build ‘think time’ into your schedule. Plan and protect time for looking ahead. Make time to learn and think – not a random gap only created by operational pressures.
- Resist immediate gratification. Most of us are dominated by daily to-dos. The constant blast of requests and actions always feels more pressing and more important. We love the buzz of crossing something off our to-do list, while the bigger issues can feel like less of a priority on any given day.
- Get out there. Talk to others in your industry. Go to conferences or roundtables. Visit an innovative organization for new ideas – even outside your industry. It’s hard to expand your horizons if you talk to the same people every week.
- Know what you don’t know. The world and the market are constantly changing. Are you keeping up? Strategic thinking depends on it. Keep learning. The access to useful information is enormous.
- Look for a strategic advisor. Nothing beats a human connection with someone who knows how to do what you want to do. I have learned the most from conversations when an expert can help me understand (at least some of) what they already know and, most importantly, help me apply it to my situation.
- Ask more questions. Innovation and strategy begin with curiosity and asking questions. It is how we learn. Without asking questions you may create the perfect strategy for five years ago.
Being more strategic can feel big or hard to realize. But, for starters, just a few changes in how you spend your time, prioritize, and focus on learning can help you make a big leap forward.
Reserve think time. It may be the best gift you can give yourself.