Planning versus Strategic planning

TL; DR

We sometimes start with the vision, as vision is the driver for the goals. We jump to the vision without realizing that the Vision is the outcome of understanding our role in the ecosystem and how can we set ourselves up for successful delivery. Seeking answers to some existential questions allows us to focus on a vision that will help us be successful.

Once a clear vision is established, it drives strategic themes which then drive goals and lead to better outcomes.

“You’re not strategic enough. You are a high performer but in order to get to the next level, you need to be more strategic,” I was confused and taken aback by the feedback that my manager provided me. I was primed and promised this role. I had delivered on all the commitments and also helped other teams stay on track. She looked at my end-of-the-year comp review, smiled, and said “Congrats! You did very well.”

I looked at it, the numbers were very generous. While I was confused, I couldn’t hide my smile, “Thank you, this is very kind but I still dont understand what did I not do. What did I miss?“

In only 10 minutes, she outlined a key difference that I needed to overcome to get to the next level: the difference between planning and strategic planning. In those 10 minutes, she molded my thoughts, approach, and my personality. The gist of it can be summarized in four questions that one must ask in order to develop a strategic plan against their big vision.