Are you too strategic?

Visionary leaders must take care to not get too far ahead of their team.

THINK ON IT: Are you too strategic?

Today’s question is one that you’re not likely to expect from a blog titled Strategic CEO… but are you too strategic? 

I once worked with a client who was frustrated with the partners in his business. 

He was the visionary, constantly thinking about how to grow the firm and had many ideas for doing so. His partners, on the other hand, were highly operational, spending their time attending to the many needs of the business, with little time for long-range thinking. 

They were at odds. 

Neither thought the other was doing the right kind of work.

I explained the situation to him this way: As the managing partner, he was like the lead ship that left his armada behind and had sailed over the horizon. He failed to socialize his thinking with them and so, it wasn’t surprising that his partners had trouble supporting his direction.

This challenge can happen to any leader: they can become overly strategic. And it happens when they aren’t spending the time necessary to cultivate the strategy with the rest of their team. 

So, as a visionary, if you’re finding yourself wondering why your team is not as energized by the vision and strategy as you are, ask yourself, Have I gotten too far ahead of my team? 

And if you want some suggestions to make sure you don’t, paid subscribers read on (Become a paid subscriber.)

“The ability to establish, grow, extend, and restore trust is the key professional and personal competency of our time.” — Steven M.R. Covey

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