There are many ways we could frame out leadership. Here is one approach that is not only straightforward, but also powerful. Many leaders focus on the strategic level of leadership while neglecting both the visionary and tactical levels. By putting all three levels together, you can lead at higher levels without losing sight of the tactical details.
- Visionary: This level includes vision: What is the picture of your preferred future. You could also ask, “Where do you want to go?” Second, this level includes value(s) which focus on what do you value and what value do you bring to your organization. Lastly, there is your voice. This is the look, feel, and style of your leadership.
- Strategic: This level focuses on what you want to accomplish. It begins with a clear set of outcomes and supports those outcomes with detailed strategies and resources. Remember that we use TEMP for resources: Time, Energy, Money, and People.
- Tactical: This is what happens on the ground. It includes activities (What are you going to do), time (When are you going to do something), place (Where are you going to do something). The tactical level of exercise could be “I am going to run at the park for 20 minutes.” This includes the activity, time, and place.
