This is part three of a six-part series where I aim to break down what strategic thinking actually involves, to make it less abstract for those looking to transition into strategic leadership / executive roles.
As you progress into executive-level roles, there is generally more discomfort to deal with.
Unlike middle management where you likely just manage more of what you know, in senior management you are increasingly required to operate outside of your area of technical expertise.
You may be spending more time and effort on things you are not naturally good at or not really interested in.
You may even be expected to champion some of these corporate activities.
Since you are at a higher pay grade and promoted based on your perceived talent, you are expected to get up to speed on new areas fairly quickly.
So, not only is there a lot to learn, it also needs to occur with a sense of urgency.
As you climb the corporate ladder, you also realise that increased authority does not necessarily involve more direct control.
Having a larger portfolio to manage means that you will not be able to know, track and ‘get into the weeds’ of everything.
This may create an increased feeling of unease, especially if you have micromanagement tendencies.
Becoming more comfortable with uncertainty, picking your battles and embracing imperfection will become crucial to your success as an executive.
But this doesn’t mean that you need to throw caution to the wind and hope for the best, nor lower your standards altogether.
You can use corporate processes and systems to drive accountability and excellence, set yourself and others up for success and monitor progress without overwhelm.
And this approach not only allows you to think and act with more confidence, it also helps others.
When you empower your people, you build their capability.
When you identify and prioritise the things that matter and declutter the rest, you provide your team with clarity and reduce their overall workload.
This builds employee engagement and improves the organisation’s chances of success.
I hope this is helpful.