One block every leader needs on their calendar
I’ve been thinking this a lot lately (okay…maybe forever), but I’m a firm believer that strategy is the most ambiguous word in business.
Everyone throws it around super confidently. It’s one of those words you need to act like you know, or else you look…well, dumb. And no one likes to look dumb in a room full of people. (Business Rule #1: never show weakness, amiright?)
Well, I’m here to stand up on the little pedestal in the middle of the room and say, this word confuses me. Or at least, it used to. And that’s probably because it’s SO easy to confuse strategy and tactics…especially for those of us who started at the bottom and served as tactical workers for much of our career.
Define “strategy”
In a business context, strategy is a comprehensive plan outlining how a company will achieve its long-term goals—including resource allocation, positioning, and decision direction (thanks, Google AI Overview).
But Google AI Overview answers don’t exactly show you the real-life, day-to-day struggle that is setting, following, and fumbling through business strategy in real time. Because, guess what? Things usually don’t go to plan. Robert Burns said it in 1785 and it’s still true now.
That’s why it’s extremely important to have dedicated, weekly time to work on strategy—whether you’re a freelancer or running a multi-million dollar empire (or anything in between). This should be a standing meeting (or meetings) that you have with your business partner, integrator, or alone to work through issues, decisions, and other things that no one else in the business can do but you.
This is what it means to work ON the business, not IN the business.
What counts as strategic work in a small business?
If you own a business, strategy work includes high-level decisions that no one else but you can make.
For instance: team issues. Are you struggling with a team member? Is capacity an issue? Do you need to train, support, consider termination? If termination, then what about a replacement? How does that move impact overall capacity? What will the time you need to put aside for interviewing take away from?
Another example: marketing. Are there initiatives that need attention? A campaign, a website, ongoing content production? Are you getting analytics reports in that you need to address or review? Do you need to pivot? Hire a freelancer or an agency? What can you afford?
If you’re a freelancer or solopreneur: take a breath and evaluate the season you’re in. Are you flush with work? Awesome. What do you need to do to keep the momentum? Or maybe you’re starting to see the end of the prospects. Okay, how can you brainstorm on ways to get the pipeline moving again? What trees can you shake?
And if you’re a team lead (not a biz owner), you probably have issues on your team, or things you need to shake up or innovate. Yes, it’s working in the business, but this work is important to your role. You may need less frequent strategy time, but you should work it in for yourself. How can you lighten your team’s load with AI? Is there someone you need to nurture, elevate, or teach? What do you need to raise up the chain to your boss?
How to make strategy happen
Like anything else, strategy needs time. Go to your calendar and create a recurring strategy block. If you’re not sure where to start thinking, here’s a simple agenda:
What’s working?
What’s not working?
What are big opportunities or actions I need to make space for?
What are things that might throw the next few weeks or month off-kilter?
What are things I need to stop, start, or continue?
If it sounds like a SWOT analysis, it is…with a little dash of start/stop/continue thrown in. This should help you clear your mind and get all the things out that keep you up at night.
And if you aren’t sure where to go next and need some time to bounce ideas around or form a project plan, I’m open for one-off Office Hours sessions whenever you’re ready.
Psst: this post originally appeared as an exclusive in my weekly newsletter. Not everything makes it back to the blog, so if you’re looking for more operational tips like this, sign up.
