Thinking Too Small: The Trap of Tactical Leadership
“Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it’s about deliberately choosing to be different.” – Michael Porter.
Have you ever been called “dependable” or “a go-to person”? That’s usually a compliment. It means people trust you to get things done. But here’s the question no one’s asking: Are you being trusted with responsibility, or with only tasks? This is how I began my career. I was dependable; when something needed to get done, I was the guy. You wanted it done quickly and right; I was the “go-to-guy." However, later on, I found myself in my boss’s office, asking why I was overlooked when I had wanted more. I wanted to contribute on a higher level. What was I missing? That is where I made a change in my career path.
This is where many young professionals stall. You do good work, meet deadlines, and handle your team’s needs. But when the conversation turns to leadership roles, your name isn’t on the list. Why?
Because you’re seen as tactical, not strategic. Hello?
In this third installment of Breaking the Leadership Barrier, we delve into one of the most common yet under-discussed pitfalls: the trap of tactical leadership. Many aspiring leaders don’t fail because they lack skill or effort. They fail because they haven’t learned how to think differently.
From Doer to Thinker: Why the Shift Matters
Leadership is more than getting things done. It’s about understanding why things matter, what needs to change, and how your work contributes to the bigger picture.
Too many professionals stay stuck in execution mode. They keep their heads down, check every box, and assume performance alone will earn them a seat at the table. But leaders aren’t looking for someone who just delivers tasks. They’re looking for someone who understands the business—someone who thinks ahead, not just in the moment.
Strategic thinking is what separates someone who manages work from someone who drives direction.
Two Ways People Get Stuck
1. Lack of Strategic Thinking
When you only focus on what’s directly in front of you, you miss the context of why your work matters. Strategy isn’t only for executives. If you want to grow into leadership, you need to start seeing your work as part of a bigger system.
Ask yourself:
How does my work impact other teams or departments?
What are the key priorities of the organization right now?
Are there smarter, more efficient ways to do what we’ve always done?
These questions help you rise above the day-to-day and begin thinking like a strategist.
2. Being Reactive Instead of Proactive
Tactical leaders often spend their days putting out fires. They’re responsive, helpful, and busy—but not forward-thinking. Strategic leaders carve out space to think. They anticipate what’s coming, plan for it, and create space for their teams to do the same.
Reacting keeps you in motion. Proactively thinking keeps you in control.
How to Start Thinking Strategically
Strategic thinking is a skill, not a gift. It’s something you build by asking better questions, observing patterns, and staying curious about the broader goals of your company. Here are three ways to get started.
1. Think Like Your Boss’s Boss
This is one of the fastest ways to expand your thinking. Instead of asking what your direct manager wants, ask what their boss is focused on. Try to connect your work to that layer of leadership. It changes how you approach decisions, priorities, and communication.
2. Learn Basic Business Acumen
You don’t need an MBA to understand how your company operates. Learn the fundamentals—like how the business makes money, what the key performance drivers are, and what the most significant challenges are in your industry.
You can find this information through internal business reviews, town halls, or resources such as Harvard ManageMentor or strategy workshops. Even one lunch-and-learn or internal dashboard review a month can sharpen your business lens.
3. Start Asking “What If?” Questions
What if we changed how this process worked? What if this customer’s need shifts? What if we approached this project from a different angle?
These kinds of questions don’t just show curiosity—they show that you’re starting to think like a leader.
The Mindset Shift
Moving from tactical to strategic is not about abandoning execution; it’s about refining it. It’s about adding context, foresight, and influence to your work. It’s about creating time to think, not just respond.
Leaders notice the people who see beyond their task list. They pay attention to who’s thinking about the next move, not just the current one.
When you start showing up with insightful solutions and forward-looking ideas, people begin to see you differently. You’re no longer just doing the work—you’re shaping it.
Make Your Move
If you’ve been caught in the cycle of doing, now’s the time to shift into thinking.
Pick one area of your role this week where you can think more strategically. It could be how you prepare for meetings, how you structure your team’s goals, or how you approach a recurring project.
Ask yourself:
What’s the bigger goal here?
How can I simplify or improve this process?
Who else is affected by this work, and how can I support them?
These small shifts add up—and they’re often the exact signals decision-makers are looking for when identifying future leaders.
If you’re ready to think bigger, subscribe to the EXCEL2WIN Leadership Newsletter. You’ll get weekly insights drawn from 45+ years of real leadership experience—entirely free and sent directly to your inbox.
Stay with us for Part 4, following Monday: The Lone Wolf Lie – Why Leadership Isn’t a Solo Climb.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the “go-to guy” role—always getting things done but never getting invited into strategy conversations—this book is for you.
In Leadership Strategy and Tactics, former Navy SEAL officer Jocko Willink translates battlefield leadership into everyday business practices. But don’t let the military tone fool you. This book is a practical, clear-headed field manual for anyone who wants to move beyond execution and start leading at a higher level. From learning when to step back from the weeds to how to manage up, Jocko lays out exactly how to shift from doing the work to thinking about the work.
It connects perfectly to our latest article on the trap of tactical leadership. If you’re ready to stop reacting and start leading strategically, this book shows you how.
Pick up your copy of Leadership Strategy and Tactics and subscribe to the EXCEL2WIN Leadership Newsletter for weekly tools and insights designed to help you think like a leader—before you ever get the title.
