Strategy is a Team Effort

Closing out a year brings a sort of reflective energy to it. Did we achieve what we wanted to? Where did we fall short? What can we do to make sure we do/don’t do that [insert something here] again next year? Each of these questions relates back your strategy. But maybe not the one you’re thinking of.

Most businesses rely on the highest levels of leadership to manage their strategy and strategic plan. It’s what they get paid the big bucks for, right? This mindset, however, creates a missed opportunity. By segmenting this brand of thinking and planning to the highest levels of your organization, you communicate that only those “responsible” for strategy should think about it.

Each of your employees should be thinking strategically while on the job, not only in relation to your strategy, but on how they approach their tasks and responsibilities as well. Shifting to this frame of mind can be difficult though, because “the employee” has been conditioned for a long, long time that they are to follow orders and do as the boss tells them to. Asking them to think strategically may be a new concept.

To help your team get there, start asking some “strategic” questions:

• What is the most important thing on your to-do list right now? If your employee lists an item that is not part of your strategic goals or plans, redirect them. This helps with efficiency, too.
• What does success look like today/this week/this quarter? Continuing to define the goal as often as possible ensures everyone stays on track.
• How might you solve this problem? This question scores big in the employee-empowerment department. By asking everyone on your team for their input on how to solve the organization’s most pressing issues, you build on collective knowledge, especially where their organizational viewpoints might add a lot of value.

Keep your team focused on strategic thinking and watch them shift the way they approach their work. Every employee has a unique way of approaching situations. They also have unique talents and ways of processing information and problems. By decentralizing the conversation of strategy from the highest levels of your organization, you bring up group expertise, which can be an invaluable asset for your organization’s long term success.

If you want to help your team shift toward broad strategic thinking in line with your goals, contact us for a free consultation. We work alongside our client’s employee teams to help them optimize the way they deliver in their roles.