What it means to be strategic

The other day I was working with a founder client of mine and he said something I’ve heard hundreds of times.

“She is good at executing. Asking me what’s needed and doing that.”
“He is good at really thinking about things bigger picture and coming up with a direction and plan to get there.”

In essence, he was strategic. And she was not.

My conversation with my client related to future organization planning. Without any other context, he’d promote the male on his team. And keep the woman executing as she was doing so brilliantly.  When you are at higher levels in an organization your job becomes to think about things. People who report to you hold the execution.

Yes, my client likely has bias and could only see things that confirmed that bias. Yes, he may only be seeing part of a much fuller reality. But his way of seeing things still has impact.

If you are wondering at this point if I flagged this to him, the answer is yes. And I will share with you what I shared with him.

Even if what he sees is reality, it benefits him to see what drives this delta. And I know a lot of women who like to check boxes, feel progress, and get sh*t done. Understanding how society influences this perpetuated paradigm serves you too.
 

Society's success for women

Society conditions women to take care of the people around them. Women are successful when the needs of the people in their lives get satisfied. They need something, we deliver. Generally, the demands placed upon women will keep us executing all day long. Note that this applies to most modern-day workers, but women experience this differently. The list never disappears.

Most women I know can’t fathom not doing something. Because it'll result in someone getting let down and thus our not being successful. We see this as a failure rather than good leadership. And it is good leadership - prioritization and discernment.

To avoid our mislabeled failure, we stay buried in execution.

The need to redefine success

What's needed is a redefinition of success. Away from executing everything toward thinking and intentional action. And learn to let some of the execution go to create the space for strategic thinking.

Even in enrollment for my programs, I hear the same thing from women who join over and over. "I knew I needed to make space to step back. And do strategic thinking about their own life and career." By the time they join, they've realized only they could make that space - not anyone else.
 

The real downside to this shift

And yes, a shift away from execution may lead to consequences. From not complying with society’s expectations. But other people’s view of us is outside of our control. And continuing to align ourselves to those expectations isn’t paying off either. Promotion rates for women are not off the charts in this paradigm.

Why it's important anyway

The thing we can control is what we value and how we align ourselves toward creating that value. In our lives, careers, and worlds. When you define what is valuable and take action toward that, you'll feel fulfilled. A level of fulfillment that doesn't come from purely executing. You'll know the meaning behind your actions and that will be a beacon for inspiration and motivation.

If you are questioning what is valuable

You might argue that companies are valuing the wrong things - thinking over executing. If that’s you. I see you. I used to be one of those people. Because the amount of work on my plate kept me buried. I was angry at people who had the privilege to think all day (yes, it really felt that way). 

What I now know is that the ideas inside of me were beautiful, forward-thinking, and needed. But I didn’t value them enough to give them my time. 

Call for reflection

What idea are you sitting on that you don’t have time for? What do you need to say no to for that to blossom?


Shine On, 
Alicia
 

PS - if you know it’s time to zoom out and be strategic about your own life and career, check out the Rebellious Leader launching August 29th. The program includes the reality of systems on women’s reality and how to see that so you can make meaningful change toward what’s most important to you. If you want to explore if this program is a good fit for you, book a 1:1 call with me.

PPS - if you want to learn more about systemic influences, join my FREE Women’s Leadership Collective next week.

(Image by Shirley Niv Marton via Unsplash )