As a Christian Executive or head of a company, it’s up to you to anticipate, plan for, and execute plans for all sorts of situations – expected bumps in the road, new business goals, and long-term vision.
Having the ability to successfully and effectively strategize will sharpen those tools you need when situations like those arise. Here are 8 qualities of a master strategist that you can apply next time you sit down to brainstorm and plan.
1. Master strategists free up and highly prioritize their strategy time.
The product of effort, especially long-term, is a clear indicator of priority. You might daydream and imagine a perfect scenario all day, but nothing will come of it unless you act. If you value effective strategy and solid productivity, you should prioritize the time you devote to planning and strategizing. Active time investment is important to productive outcomes.
2. Learn from people who are effective strategists.
Part of being a strong leader means a willingness to listen and learn from others. It may mean working with a colleague or team member who’s demonstrated a strong ability to strategize, or researching and seeking out leaders with a history of seeing things in the long-term. Surround yourself with sources you can emulate and trust, especially those who are master strategists themselves. Remember – the outcome of a person’s work and effort often speaks for itself.
3. Think Long-term.
Master strategists show an ability to think 3, 5, and even 10 years ahead – all while considering the impact and implications of their current actions. Be aware of the world around you, and very specifically the things that could affect your area of work. Keep an eye on past trends’ effect on today’s world, and ponder the effect of today’s actions and events on the future.
4. Stay close to the company’s broader vision.
Consider the company’s values, vision for output and impact in the future, and long-term mission. Where have you said you want to be? What are your criteria and standards for your work, and where do you refuse to cross lines or compromise your values? Let your overarching company foundations and priorities greatly affect how you strategize.
5. Be able to step back and spot trends.
Getting the perspective of different positions and departments in the company will greatly benefit your ability to visualize the company as a whole. People with other perspectives may spot things you don’t – Randy in HR may have a whole different narrative on how the new employee implementation is going than you do, and Susan in Financials may see why the previous way of reviewing client portfolios is more effective than what they’ve been trying.
Look for certain themes and processes throughout the company as you strategize – getting “down into the front lines” can give you a perspective that very few company heads ever see. Also consider how you can take advantage of the trends you see, in light of how they might pan out over years to come.
Strategic thinking is about asking the right questions: How will we win? What is at stake? How do you define success? What would the different departments say about this plan?
6. Be able to foresee and get over obstacles.
Consider obstacles you might encounter and make a list of those that might naturally appear. Your ability to see ahead and predict company obstacles or challenges could make or break your ability to effectively overcome them. Build a plan for overcoming the obstacles on your list – this prevents a last minute panic or unplanned halt.
7. Gather opinions, and be open to feedback.
Consider whose opinions could weigh on both your process and the outcome – who will your strategy effect that might have constructive thoughts and be able to provide critical feedback? Look for other companies that might have gone through similar processes and ask how and why they made their changes.
Be open to everyone affected by your strategy, and be open to hearing feedback and possibly making changes accordingly. Don’t shrug an opinion away just because you don’t immediately agree – write it down and ponder it before you give it up.
8. Know how to make wise decisions, with a whole perspective.
According to McKinsey studies, not all decisions are created equal. There are three decision types within a company:
- Big bets are infrequent and high-stakes decisions, often with the potential to shape the company’s future—for example, acquisitions and annual resource allocation.
- Cross-cutting decisions, like big bets, are broad in scope, but they are more frequent and familiar. They consist of a series of smaller, interconnected decisions made by different groups in the company as part of a collaborative, end-to-end decision process, as with a pricing decision.
- Delegated decisions are frequent decisions that are much narrower in scope, such as changes to HR policy. These decisions are effectively handled by a single individual or working team made accountable for the decision, and they usually require limited input from others.
Make an effort to learn about responsible and wise decision-making – as a leader, your calls affect the whole company.
As a master strategist, what can you be improving to realize the best outcome for you and your team in the future?
How 1st Principle Leadership Can Help You Become a Stronger Christian Leader
1st Principle Leadership (1PL) blends Christian leadership coaching, business consulting, life coaching and counseling to help you make progress strategically and financially—fast.
We can help you be the leader God wants you to be by following a proven process.
We know that running a business requires you to be at the top of your game, but managing the day to day problems while thinking strategically and financially (among other things) leaves little energy to dedicate elsewhere.
We also know this: Christ commands us to order all of our lives under him as Redeemer and Lord.
While this may seem like yet another set of tasks on an already never-ending list, reorienting our lives toward Christ and reinterpreting our effectiveness and health – in all ways, shapes, and forms – in alignment to His calling of us as leaders is what will enable us to better generate solutions to our problems, both personal and professional.
We would love to help you on this journey. If we can assist you in any way, please drop us a line here.
