Focusing on the road ahead—designing your strategic objectives—can be boiled to the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of the business. It’s what strategy is all about.
The foot soldier is about the tactical world and ensuring things get done. Just like the foot soldier has their eye on the details, the CEO has their eye on the bigger picture. Where the foot soldier is concerned about loading a truck full of grain or repairing a belt elevator, the business leader is considering buying a company that would supply a fleet of trucks to give the overall company a competitive advantage. That bigger picture must have clearly stated strategic goals and objectives that the team can work towards. This cannot happen unless the business leadership and management team are on the same page and can answer the question, “What is on the strategic agenda of the organization?”
Some of you reading may this may think, “Well that’s obvious! Of course that’s where people on the different levels should focus.” But it’s not what always happens. There are many examples in business were the CEO/President is focused on operational issues and where the operational resources interfere with the larger business objectives. Clarity of roles and focus is important.
That clarity will help you in creating and mapping your success.
