How to be a Strategic Leader

Most leaders are soooo busy they don't have time to be strategic.

By strategic, I mean tapping into that innate intelligence that exists inside of you so that you make better decisions for the future.

But to access this knowledge you have create space and by space I mean a period of uninterrupted time, usually not in the workplace.

It could be a walk, sitting in a coffee shop, or on a park bench some where.

But if you're like me, and your mind can quickly get off topic, I want to give you one of my simple templates you can use as a guide. This one is for Team Development.

--------

Strategic Thinking Session Template: Team Development and Empowerment

Location: Your Favorite Coffee Shop

Duration: 2-3 hours

Protecting Your Time: Silence ALL notifications

Introduction: Setting the Stage

- Start with a brief moment of reflection: Why is team development and empowerment important to you and your team?

Section 1: Vision for the Team

Describe your vision for an empowered, developed team. What does success look like for your team in one year? Consider culture, performance, and individual development.

Section 2: Assessing Current Team Dynamics

1. Strengths: List the key strengths of your team.

2. Challenges: Identify current challenges your team is facing. Think about communication, collaboration, motivation, and skill gaps.

3. Opportunities: Where are the opportunities for growth and improvement? Consider new projects, training, or restructuring.

- Autonomy: How can you give more control and decision-making power to your team?

- Mastery: What skills and competencies need development? Plan for training or mentoring.

- Purpose: How can you align individual goals with team and organizational goals?

Section 3: Create 2-3 Strategic Objectives

(For example)

Objective 1: Enhance team communication.

Key Actions:

Timeline:

Expected Outcomes:

Section 4: Action Plan

Based on the objectives and strategies discussed, outline a detailed action plan.

- What will be done?

- Who is responsible?

- When will it start/end?

- How will progress be measured?

Section 6: Reflective Notes

As you conclude your session, take a moment to jot down any new insights or ideas that emerged during your strategic thinking time.

This is a simple framework to guide your strategic thinking. Customize as necessary.

I have 4 more templates to help you be a more strategic leader. If you want them, sign up for my newsletter and you can access them all. Link in bio.