Questions of what is tactical? What is strategic? What makes a person tactical or strategic? Always loomed in my head and remained a mystery up until now.
Definitions based on Merriam-Webster dictionary:
- Strategic: Of great importance within an integrated whole or to a planned effect
- Tactical: Of tactics of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose
The strategic person:
- Has a future plan and goals to meet identified objectives
- Uses data and trends to formulate decision
- Able to see the future based on what is happening now, think of chess; if you move a piece think of the trigger it will have.
- Knows their space limitations and opportunities
The tactical person:
- Focuses on immediate needs
- Cares more about operations and stability
- Usually a subject matter expert in one area
- Usually has limited scope to what they can take on
- Usually stays within their limits
Quick Summary on work styles:
| Tactical | Strategic |
| Reactive | Proactive |
| Event oriented | Goal oriented |
| Black and white | Gray, ambiguous |
Delivery
Tactical
- Delivers output instead of outcomes
- Prioritize quantity over value
- Considered to be an order, think the restaurant waiter. Usually operates without a Vision or a long term goal.
Strategic
- Focuses on outcomes
- Works on planned tasks, tied to the vision and the team’s strategy
- Pivots occasionally to maintain alignment to the main objective
Bringing it together:
Every team and individual needs a combination of both tactical and strategic focus, the key is balance. You want to have goals and long term plans, but you also need the ability to execute and make consistent progress towards the finish line. Based on my personal view of high performance individuals and teams there is a 30% strategic and 70% tactical balance; however there are times where strategic work will consume the majority of your time, initially at the start of the new product or project.
Every product needs a vision and a strategy to drive the teams forward. Metrics will be essential to your success.. In a fast paced environment, significant data needs to be immediately available. If you are not trending in the desired direction, then you need to plan what needs to change. If you are trending positively then you need to determine how to continue the trend.