Defining the Difference: Being Strategic Versus Tactical?

First myth: being strategic is more important than being tactical. Second myth: being tactical means you’re just a task master. 

I call both thoughts myths because neither are black and white answers, yet many people want to make them seem as such. Great leaders have the ability to think strategically and function tactically when the situation calls for either of these skills. There is a need and role for both in every business. The details of your position will be the difference between how much time you spend working in each area. 

We could spend a lot of time talking about roles and responsibilities, but let’s first define the difference between strategic and tactical thinking.

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before the defeat.” Sun Tzu — The Art of War

Strategy

Strategy is highly related to your mission, your vision, and is the act of defining your goals. Thinking from a strategic perspective is where you will define your ‘why’ and the ‘what’ of your business. This is what we want to accomplish and this is why we need to do that.

Strategy is about determining the destination. It also involves building the roadmap of what will need to happen in order to arrive where we eventually want to be. What needs to be anticipated along the way? Are there stops that will be necessary? Should we expect roadblocks? What considerations should be made to work around those? Each of these questions will begin to inform the actions that will be necessary, ultimately leading to the tactics that you will take.

A strategy will evolve as situations change. At its core, strategy is about leveraging strengths in each environment and then knowing how the available tactics can be applied. It is about recognizing the full potential of the opportunity and defining the course to realize that potential.

Tactical

The tactical side leads to how you are going to accomplish the work related to your what and why. Your tactics become the turn by turn instructions for the roadmap and eventually guide you to the destination. Tactics are the specific actions you will take to achieve the outcomes you seek. 

Tactical may be the less sexy side of getting things done, but nothing gets done without having the tactical element of work in place. It is fun to think about the possibilities and all the different options on what could be done. It is less exciting to take the necessary actions to actually get where you want to go. This is detailed work. This is hard work. And, the tactics are important work. Being tactical or employing this skill as needed should not diminish anyone’s role or ability. This is critical to every business’s success. Referencing the quote above, I would argue that strategy without tactics is not a slow road to victory, it is likely a dead end.

As the environment changes, so will the tactics necessary to continue forward to the destination. While strategy evolves as change is anticipated, tactics likely will be more start and stop oriented. At times, they may even feel abrupt based on the changes necessary and the strategic decisions being made. Switching tactics in and out or trying new things often is the only way to accomplish the mission. These types of situations lead to the birth of innovation and efficiency. Challenges with environmental changes and strategic redirection will require new approaches on how the work gets done. Once again, this demonstrates how important being able to think tactically is equal to the need to think strategically. 

Strategy and tactics are not opposites. They do not oppose each other. They are complimentary. It is critical they work in concert with each other for successful outcomes. Leaders that surround themselves with people from both camps and can balance the two themselves are the ones that will continue to define what success looks like. That very desire to build a strategy, share it, then ensure supporting tactics are in place will attract the talent necessary to consistently achieve high reaching goals and stretch boundaries further than previously thought. So next time someone asks if we need to be more strategic or tactical in our approach, the simple answer of ‘yes’ is the most accurate.

How do you balance the need for strategic and tactical thinking in your business?

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