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vision

Strategy or Tactics?

July 14, 2013 By Michele Woodward 4 Comments

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Let’s take a little quiz: Which of these are strategic ideas?

a.) “We need a website.”

b.) “Let’s put together some seminars.”

c.) “I will hire a publicist.”

d.) “I’m going to do four informational interviews or networking events a week.”

e.) None of the above

If  you answered e.), give yourself a gold star and take the rest of the afternoon off.

Because while many folks think a.) through d.) are strategic, they’re not. They’re what we call “tactics.”

Shall we discuss?

OK. Think of the difference this way – strategy is the big painting in a frame and tactics are the brushstrokes that make up the picture. Make sense?

It’s a sequence. And regardless of what you want to accomplish, here’s how the sequence needs to flow:

Vision –> Goals –> Strategy –> Tactics –> Action –> Evaluation –> [repeat cycle]

See? If you go right for tactics, you’re starting smackdab in midstream. And while it may feel satisfying to use your brush and put paint on the canvas, if you skip vision and strategy – what do you think your painting is going to end up looking like?

When you’re stuck in tactics-only hell: You spin your wheels. You throw stuff against the wall to see what sticks.You are sound and fury signifying nothing.

Nothing seems to change. The numbers start to look bad. More of the same old same old.

Your painting of a mountainscape looks more like a single duck. Or maybe it’s an owl. Or a skyscraper. Tilt your head to the right and it sort of looks like Great Aunt Myrtle…

Familiar yet?

So, to be efficient and really move toward something that hangs together, just follow these sequential steps:

Vision –> Goals –> Strategy –> Tactics –> Action –> Evaluation –> [repeat cycle]

Let’s define, class.

Vision is the Big Why. What do you want to do – and why do you want it?

Goals are markers along the way toward achieving the vision.

Strategy is the big picture plan how to accomplish the goals.

Tactics are specific paths and choices to support the strategy.

Action is the doing  part.

Evaluation is checking to see that your strategy and tactics are working so you can revise and adapt as necessary.

Darlings, to be efficient – in terms of time, effort and money – any successful campaign/business/launch/effort/masterpiece must follow this same sequence:

Vision –> Goals –> Strategy –> Tactics –> Action –> Evaluation –> [repeat cycle]

As tempting as it is, if you want to really accomplish something don’t just start slopping paint around willy-nilly. Take a moment (or two) to get yourself in alignment with your vision, then start your doing.

Because I want you to be able to answer e.) to this set of answers when your masterpiece is completed:

a.) This is awesome

b.) It looks just like I thought it would

c.) Can you believe this success?

d.) I had no idea it was this easy!

e.) All of the above

Filed Under: Authenticity, Blog, Clarity, Managing Change, Uncategorized, WiseWork Tagged With: clarity, getting stuff done, plans, strategy, tactics, vision

Hope.

August 14, 2011 By Michele Woodward Leave a Comment

There are people who will tell you that hope is not a strategy.  And I completely understand that perspective, especially when I hear my mother’s voice in my ear saying, “Wishin’ don’t make it so” (and she would throw on her twangiest twang as she said it, too).

But hope can be a powerful, powerful thing – especially when it’s tied to a really clear vision of the future.

Have you got hopes?  Could you make a list of them? A list of your dreams?  Your vision of the future?

I know I can.

I hope I’m healthy into my old age.

But wishin’ don’t make it so, does it?

What do I have to do to make my hope a reality?

Feed myself nourishing foods, get moderate exercise, see the doctor from time to time, have friends, enjoy myself.

Looking at it that way, doesn’t getting older seem like a ton of fun?

I hope I’m financially secure throughout my life.

Again, wishin’ ain’t gonna fill up my bank account.  So what do I need to do?

Work smart, invest well, save responsibly, spend reasonably.

[I like that – especially the work smart part.]

I hope I’m always connected to engaged, happy, fun, caring people.

Well, to be connected with engaged, happy, fun, caring people, I need to make sure that I’m engaged, happy, fun and caring myself.

You never get what you aren’t willing to give, do you?

The exciting prospect is that to achieve this I get to keep learning new things, doing new things, meeting new people.  I also get to be open, and vulnerable, and nurturing.

Now, that sounds like a wonderful way to live.

I hope my children are happy adults.

You know what?  I’m going to take that back. Let me be more specific.

I hope my children are good partners.  Good parents.  Good neighbors.  Good friends.  I hope they find meaningful work.  I hope they remain in touch with their own resilience.

I hope they find joy.

I hope they have hope.

Because hope is a vision of how the future might be.

How our lives could possibly be if we just line up square behind that hope and make it a reality.

Just like rock breaks scissors, darlings, hope squashes fear.

We hope we can, so we do.

Like magic.

Hope, when it’s backed up by steps toward a vision of your own creation – yes, in that case, hoping sure does make it so.

 

[photo credit:  Michele Woodward]

Filed Under: Clarity, Getting Unstuck, Happier Living Tagged With: deciding, fear, future, happiness, hope, strategy, vision

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