You’re doing a lot. But are you doing the right things?
“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” -Michael Star
For many leaders, the challenge isn’t capacity- it’s clarity. You’ve got a competent team. A Board that cares. A mission that matters. But when everything feels important it’s easy to default to activity instead of strategy.
Without a way to filter the noise, your leadership can drift- even while you stay busy.
It’s not that you’re doing the wrong work.
It’s that you’re not sure if it’s the right work- right now.
The Cost of Working Without a Strategic Lens
When leaders lose strategic focus, the impact spreads fast.
- You start chasing symptoms instead of solving root problems.
- Your team burns energy on projects that don’t move the needle.
- Your Board gets restless– or stuck in the weeds.
- And you? You end up exhausted, trying to juggle priorities that weren’t strategic to begin with.
Here’s what that looks like in real terms:
- Misaligned initiatives: Projects take off before priorities are clarified. People work hard on the wrong things.
- Blurred roles: Teams make up direction as they go. Accountability falters.
- Fractured attention: You’re reacting instead of leading. Planning turns into firefighting.
- Stalled progress: Momentum fizzles. The team looks busy- but the outcomes don’t match the effort.
It’s frustrating. Demoralizing, even. And it’s a common pitfall- especially in growing or transitioning organizations.
But it’s fixable!
Strategy Isn’t a Document. It’s a Lens.
Too often, leaders treat strategy like a quarterly offsite or a static plan on a shelf.
But the best leaders use strategy as a lens- a way of seeing and sorting their day-to-day work.
It’s how they decide:
- What to lean into
- What to let go of
- What to say no to- even when it’s urgent
- What to revisit- even when it’s uncomfortable
The strategic lens isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership tool– especially when priorities multiply and expectations blur.
So, how do you build that lens?
5 Ways to Apply a Strategic Lens to Your Leadership
1. Build a Fast-Filter for Alignment
Before taking action or saying yes to a request- pause and ask:
Does this align with our top 3 priorities right now?
If the answer if “I’m not sure”, that’s a signal. You either need to clarify the priorities- or say no until you are sure.
Try this 3-part filter:
- Mission: Does this move us closer to our purpose?
- Timing: Is this the right time for this work?
- Resources: Do we have the bandwidth to do this well?
If you get two out of three, proceed with caution. If you get one or none, reconsider.
Alignment doesn’t mean everything fits perfectly. But it should be intentional, not accidental.
2. Test Your Assumptions: Are You Solving the Right Problem?
Often, leaders jump to solutions before understanding the actual problem.
You might say:
- “We need better communication.”
- “We need a new system.”
- “We need more staff.”
But do you?
Ask these instead:
- What’s the real pain point here? (Not just the symptom-but what’s causing it?)
- What’s changed recently? (Are we reacting to a disruption- or uncovering a deeper pattern?)
- Whose perspective are we missing? (Get input from the edges- not just the usual voices.)
One simple tactic: Use the “5 Whys” method. Keep asking “why” until you hit the root.
Because fixing the wrong thing– even efficiently- still leaves the right problem unsolved.
3. Look for Quiet Drift (It Happens Fast)
Strategic misalignment isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s subtle:
- A project takes on a life of its own.
- A Board member starts nudging in a new direction.
- Your team adds “just one more thing” to the plan.
Before long, your calendar is full of work that doesn’t match your strategy.
Build a habit of regular course checks:
- Monthly: Are we still on track with what we said matters?
- Quarterly: What have we said “yes” to that might need a “not yet”?
- In the moment: Does this belong to today- or is it mission creep?
This isn’t about rigid control. It’s about conscious choice.
4. Use Planning Rhythms to Re-Center
Strategy needs rhythm to stay alive.
Use short planning cycles- monthly or quarterly- to revisit priorities, reset expectations, and recommit to what matters most.
Include space for reflection:
- What’s working?
- What feels off?
- Where are we investing energy- and what’s the return?
This doesn’t have to be a heavy lift. A 45-minute team reset or a one-page summary can create powerful alignment.
Build these rhythms into your leadership calendar- not just your “someday” list.
5. Say “No” Without Guilt (or Delay)
Every “yes” costs you something. Time. Focus. Energy.
Leaders who lead strategically know how to say no clearly and respectfully- even when the ask seems reasonable.
Here’s a script to try:
“That’s a great idea- and I want to make sure we’re doing the right work, not just more work. Let’s park this for now and revisit once we’ve made headway on our core priorities.”
You don’t have to say no forever.
Just clearly.
And in a way that protects your team’s focus- and your own.
When It’s More Than Just a Prioritization Problem
Sometimes, what feels like “too many priorities” is actually a strategy gap.
- The mission is clear- but the goals are vague.
- The team is capable- but unclear on where to focus.
- The Board wants results- but hasn’t agreed on what success looks like.
This is when you need to zoom out, and bring someone in.
A trusted thinking partner can help you clarify direction, test assumptions, and realign priorities, before you lose more time, traction, or morale.
You don’t have to solve this alone.
But you do have to lead the shift.
A Centering Takeaway
Before your next meeting, take a breath.
Then ask yourself:
- Are we doing the right work, or just a lot of work?
- Are we solving the right problem, or just reacting to symptoms?
- Are we aligned, or just agreeable?
That’s your job as a leader: to hold the lens steady when the picture gets blurry.
Not to do it all. But to help your team see clearly, choose wisely, and move forward with focus.
A Tip to Try:
Use this quick check-in with your team next week:
“If we paused this project tomorrow- who would notice? What would happen?”
If the answer is “not much”, you’ve found work worth rethinking.
If the answer is “we’d lose momentum on something that really matters”, you’re likely on the right track.
Strategic clarity isn’t about big decisions. It’s about the small choices you make every day.
Start there.
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage- pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically- to say ‘no’ to other things.”
-Stephen R. Covey