Strategy IS extra work

I often hear that strategy feels like extra work.

What if I told you that it is always extra work!

• It always takes time away from getting day-to-day tasks done.
• It might be the manager's job—but not everyone else's.
• It may not be a well-designed process, so much time is wasted.

The key here is not to stop doing it, but instead:

• Be mindful of everyone's time.
• Acknowledge that it is extra work, but the benefits outweigh the downsides.
• Have a clear framework for leading your team's action.

Of all these, the middle one catches my eye.

Acknowledging the extra work is a beautiful principle. It communicates that it just costs too much not to have everyone on the same page.

And that it's a cost worth paying.