If you have been given feedback that you need to be more strategic, or you just feel that you are not being seen as a strategic leader then read on. To be seen as strategic we must take on a strategic mindset, but then we must also visibly demonstrate our strategic leadership skills to others in the organisation.
Here are 4 ways to make your strategic skills visible.
- Have a point of view
When I started as a management consultant this was drummed into us, we were to always have a point of view to share with clients. It makes it clear that you have considered different angles and have thought about the challenge. The other important part of being strategic is to hold your views lightly. You need a point of view, but you need to also demonstrate that you are flexible with it, open to more information, and interested in new perspectives. It’s a fine balance and you need to show that you can do both.
2. Execute on an innovative idea
It’s great to have ideas, but unless you take action no one can see your strategic thinking. I’d go one step further and encourage not only action but communicating that you are doing this, how it aligns to the strategy, what you are hoping to achieve, the assumptions you have made and how you are measuring and monitoring. You are pretty much turning your innovative idea into a mini strategy that you then execute. Keep people informed of the purpose, progress and outcomes.
3. Help others understand the strategy
If you ask people in your organisation to explain the strategy you will get quite a few blank stares. It’s surprising how many people can’t explain their own organisation’s strategy. This is your opportunity to step up and be the person that can do this. Learn about your organisation’s strategy. Ask senior leaders to explain it to you, get clear on why this is the chosen strategy, find out what the risks are and how they are being mitigated. You then become one of the few people in your organisation who can credibly explain the strategy.
4. Articulate how your team are aligned to the strategy
The gold standard of demonstrating strategic leadership is having a clear alignment of your team to the organisation’s strategy. If you do this and communicate it, then you have one of the most needed skills in senior leadership. When a team is aligned they are focused on only those things that matter to the organisation’s priorities. It creates efficiency and effectiveness as well as engaging and motivating your team who will now know what their role is and why it matters. Find ways to let others know who is doing what in your team and, most importantly, why.
These are really simple things. All leaders should be doing them, but they are not. So, just by doing these 4 things consistently and credibly, you will easily stand out as a strategic leader in your organisation.
For workshops and coaching to upskill yourself or your teams in strategic thinking contact me at Sarah Robertson Consulting or book a discovery call
