💡 A simple way for being strategic

We're often told to "be more strategic."

Here's a practical definition that I like a lot: Strategy is just a longer time horizon.

• Frontline staff think in days.

• Managers think in months.

• Executives think in years.

The trap: Someone brings you a problem, and you immediately try to solve it. You're helpful - but you just became another pair of hands.

To be strategic, go N+1.

Identify the time horizon your counterpart is focused on (N) and shift your question to the next level up (N+1).

• If a peer is stressed about next week's deadline → ask how this project fits into the quarterly goals.

• If your boss is focused on the quarterly target → think about how this aligns with the vision for the current financial year.

You don't need to have the answers. You just need to ask the question that zooms out. Next time when you heatedly discuss an issue with some, think N+1 and bring a variant of the question "how does this fit into the bigger picture?".

That's often enough a helpful jolt to reframe, normalize, or even calm down!

It's a powerful habit, too!

Give it a try :)