Strategy Is Important. But Why Don’t We Make Time for it?
Do you find yourself wishing you could reduce the barriers that keep you from having the time to strategically prepare and think? Is your day filled with “rushed deadlines” to the point that it dominates every second of your time? It’s time to stop feeding into that agitation.
TIP of Week comes from Dorie Clark. Clark is a marketing strategist and keynote speaker who teaches at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. In her article If Strategy Is So Important, Why Don’t We Make Time for It? Clark argues that culture has created the frenzy of “busy-important” and that leaders need to learn to combine similar tasks and delegate/outsource. She highlights the importance of seeing the incentives, or what amounts to proxy “put in place – often unconsciously – by companies”. She cautions that tethering yourself to your desk is not a recipe for innovative strategic thinking.
She cautions that tethering yourself to your desk is not a recipe for innovative strategic thinking.
In her article, Clark investigates, and discerningly argues on a number of the causes of busy-important, and provides leaders with three ways to help regain the space they need for strategic thinking.
- strategic thinking doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of time
- be clear on where your time is actually going
- let go of the busy=importatnt and adopt another frame that’s more conducive to deep strategic thinking
Leaders need to prioritize their goals and deal with any misalignment created by rote busyness; plus get a handle on the internal and/or external environments. Clark notes that “it’s important to remember that strategic thinking doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of time”.
“it’s important to remember that strategic thinking doesn’t necessarily require large amounts of time”.
This a must-read for leaders looking for tools to help them develop their strategic thinking routines and/or mindsets. Tools that can help them in life and with their professional schedules.
ABOUT DALE S. RICHARDS:
Dale S. Richards specializes in management, marketing, operation optimization & business valuation consulting and is a 30+ year turnaround expert. He has implemented success concepts into results in 150+ companies. Dale is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) with NACVA, Eight-Year Vistage Chair & International Speaker.
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