How to Respond When Told You're 'Not Strategic Enough' at Work

Understanding the Feedback

• 💡 When told you're "not strategic enough," it often means the feedback giver lacks the language to articulate specific needs or areas for improvement.
• 🎯 This feedback can be a proxy for other issues, such as needing better presentation skills or clearer communication, rather than a lack of strategic thinking.
• 🔑 For individuals, particularly people of color, this feedback can be personal and confusing, highlighting a need for clearer definitions of strategic contribution within organizations.

Identifying Misalignment

• 📌 A key sign of misalignment is doing great work that goes unseen or unacknowledged by your team or superiors.
• 🚀 Another indicator is failing to connect your daily tasks and contributions to the larger organizational goals or the ultimate purpose of the company.
• ⚠️ If you feel like you're working hard but don't understand why or how your work matters, it suggests a disconnect between your efforts and the company's strategic direction.

Defining and Communicating Strategy

• 🧠 Strategy is about making big bets and setting direction, not just planning or executing tasks.
• ✨ A personal strategy might involve elements like commitment, persistence, and optimism, which should be communicated to others.
• 📈 For professional strategy, define an aspirational goal (the moonshot) and then outline the key bets and plans to achieve it.

Developing Strategic Presence

• 🗣️ Strategic presence involves how others perceive your strategic thinking; it's about signaling strategic thought through your actions and communication.
• ❓ Instead of focusing on how to do something, ask "why" it's being done to understand the purpose and consider future impacts.
• 💡 Asking clarifying questions like "Can you help me understand the 'why'?" can demonstrate strategic thinking without appearing resistant, though the way questions are asked is crucial.
• ⏳ In meetings, consider speaking last to ensure your points are remembered, framing them as thoughtful considerations rather than immediate directives.

Gaining Buy-In and Overcoming Feedback

• 🤝 To gain buy-in for your strategy, involve others by asking for their opinions and feedback on your plans.
• ✅ Giving credit to collaborators for their input not only fosters buy-in but also reinforces your role in building the strategy.
• 🗣️ If you receive the "not strategic enough" feedback, ask for clarification on who is considered strategic within the organization and observe their behaviors.
• ⏳ Be aware of "organizational drift," where people judge you based on past perceptions; frame your growth by asking how they see you now since implementing changes.
• 📝 Documenting your wins and strategic actions, even in a private log, can serve as a personal reminder and a tool to demonstrate your progress and strategic contributions.