One Apple A Day #857 - Strategy
A strategy is a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim. That's what the dictionary says.
I had to search for the meaning because I realised that I don't have a clear idea of what is a strategy.
Sure, I've read this word in many places, I've used often in my previous job, and I know people who create strategies for work.
Yet, when I sit down with this word before me, I didn't know what to write.
So, my understanding is that the main ingredient of a strategy is the long-term vision, the big picture. I guess then that someone who has a strategic mindset is continuously asking the big questions, the ones that allow going beyond the immediate reward to pursue the big picture.
But there's a bit more to that. It's not just going beyond the immediate reward. It is also about seeing how every action serves the bigger picture or the long-term objective. So, it's the ability to envision the future and see how the steps in the present move you towards that future.
I can see why this is a crucial role in almost every context.
And I believe it is a mindset we should all develop.
You can start by checking if you have a vision for yourself, your projects, your family, your role, your company and so on. What is your vision in a few years? What future do you envision?
If you can't find one, then it's hard to create a strategy so it may be worth to invest some time defining your long-term vision.
Once you have a vision, you can start by asking yourself if what you're doing is moving you closer to your vision. And if not, what else can you do to advance towards it?
You won't have a strategy yet, but you'll begin to develop a strategic mindset. And maybe, after a while, a strategy will manifest.