Quote: Knowing the difference between strategy and tactics

“Tactics are the what.  Strategy is the why.  Tactics are the actions.  Strategy is the planning.  Tactics may achieve goals.  Strategy is all about setting the right goals.”  Lynn Parker, Startup Strategies  In the military the difference between strategy and tactics are much clearer than in the civilian world.  Maybe it is because there is a vast amount of training and exercising that goes on in the military.  You don’t have the equivalent amount of effort going towards the thinking about strategy and tactics in the rest of government and the private sector.

 

Which leads me to the discussion of the preponderance of strategic plans that sit on the shelf in people’s offices gathering dust and are not looked at let alone implemented.  I call these types of plans “Shelf Art.”

 

In my mind it is the leader who makes sure that a strategic plan is followed.  While other staff members might recommend chasing after any shiny bright object that waltzes by, it is the leader of the organization that keeps people and systems oriented in the right direction.  If the leader doesn’t do it or perhaps is the one wont to deviate from what was just given as the strategy—you are doomed!

 

Just last night I had a conversation with a senior vice president of a company who was explaining to me what their “strategy” is for 2011.  Then he spoke of the actions (tactics) that they were employing this year to execute their strategy.  All of this was in reaction to “my bright idea” that I had just shared with him. 

 

You have to admire people and organizations that actually have a strategy that they follow.  Not all strategies are the right ones, but you will never get far if you don’t have one in the first place.