If you’ve ever looked at a job description for a leadership role, you’ve probably come across phrases like:

​

• “You must be a proven strategic leader.”

• “Ability to think strategically.”

• “Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically.”

• “Experience of leading strategic change.”

​

These phrases are everywhere — but what do they actually mean? And how do you show that you’re strategic, especially when you’re stepping into leadership roles for the first time?

​

The truth is, many aspiring leaders hear “be more strategic” without a clear sense of what that looks like day-to-day. It’s often used as a catch-all for big-picture thinking, long-term planning, or decision-making. But being strategic goes deeper. It’s about connecting the dots, anticipating challenges, influencing others, and aligning your team’s work with broader organisational goals.

​

In this article, we’ll unpack what being strategic really means, help you recognise the key skills behind those buzzwords, and give you practical ideas to build your strategic leadership confidence.

​

Why it matters

While it may be a buzzword, being able to operate at a strategic level really does matter if you want to succeed in senior leadership positions.

​

When stepping into senior leadership and board-level conversations you need to ensure that your contributions demonstrate awareness of the wider organisational context. This can be a challenge if you have come from a position of just being able to focus your attention on a specific area of expertise, and may require some work to adapt the way you approach thinking about your organisation and its work.

​

But if you can make that transition by developing your ability to think strategically, it can not only unlock your true career potential, but it can give you confidence in your ability to problem-solve and overcome challenges in all aspects of your life.

​

Common misconceptions about being strategic

​

“Being strategic is just about thinking ahead and long-term planning”

Being strategic can definitely involve long-term planning or thinking ahead. But not all long-term planning and thinking ahead is necessarily strategic. Being able to plan strategically is a specific skill that strategic operators can do almost without thinking, but there’s much more to the overall concept of being strategic than just planning.
 

“Being strategic means having all the answers”

Conversely, people who are really great strategic thinkers are very comfortable admitting when they don’t know the answers. Being strategic is much more about asking the right questions when you don’t know the answer, and finding the right person to ask. Thinking that you know best all of the time may be a sign that you’re not as strategically-minded as you think!

​

“Being strategic is just for senior leaders and executives”

Being strategic is for everyone. It’s perhaps just not an expected quality in job descriptions below senior management. If managers and even more junior team members are able to think strategically while applying the more detailed expertise they bring to their roles this will have a huge benefit to your organisation.

​

“Being strategic is about controlling everything”

Being strategic is much more about understanding the influence you can have on everything than controlling it all. Developing flexibility in how outcomes are achieved (and avoiding micromanagement) is an important part of effective leadership. You should be focusing on ensuring consensus around the destination rather than involving yourself in mapping out the journey.

​

A working definition of ‘strategic’

So now that we've busted some misconceptions, let's try to narrow down what ‘being strategic’ means!

​

It’s impossible to boil down to one sentence because there are several elements to it:
 

Being strategic means being able to see and articulate how things fit together. It means never losing sight of the intended outcome or objective, and being focused on the outcome rather than the means of achieving it. It involves zooming out to understand the bigger picture while also applying that perspective to detailed conversations and decisions. Crucially, it means understanding your sphere of influence and using it thoughtfully to facilitate progress.

​

When you think of it in these terms, it becomes really clear how important being strategic is to effective leadership.

​

The strategic leader takes ownership of the intended outcome and holds their team accountable for staying on course. And the strategic leader is able to see and communicate how all the moving parts connect, ensuring that every decision and conversation aligns with the bigger picture. They balance a broad perspective with attention to detail, while understanding their influence and using it intentionally to guide the team toward success—effectively leading through influence without needing to micromanage.

​

From defining to refining

From defining what it means to be strategic to refining how you apply it every day, Lead.Think.Grow. is here to support your leadership journey. Many professionals are promoted into senior roles and suddenly expected to understand all of this and operate at an entirely different level from anything they’ve previously experienced — often without any real guidance. Some adapt quickly, others take longer, but almost everyone benefits from support along the way.
 

As you progress in your career, you may notice that the higher you go, the more people assume you already have all the answers, and the harder it becomes to ask for help. That’s why building your ability to think strategically is so valuable — it gives you the confidence to make decisions, lead effectively, and keep learning, even when the answers aren’t obvious.
 

That’s exactly why Lead.Think.Grow. exists. It has been designed to be the resource you can turn to at every stage of your strategic leadership journey. Whether you’re taking your first step into senior management or refining your executive approach, you’ll find resources that help you think bigger, lead with influence, and connect your work to the bigger picture.
 

You can expect regular articles, case studies, and practical tools designed to help you apply strategic thinking in real-world situations. Over time, we plan to expand with courses, events, webinars, and opportunities to network with other leaders who share your commitment to growth.
 

By joining our community, you’ll have ongoing access to insights and conversations that keep your skills sharp and your confidence high, so you can step into leadership moments ready to make an impact.