Over the last two years, I’ve worked at the executive level over the course of three actings, totaling over 14 months of experience (and ongoing).

As part of this experience, I have grow my leadership competencies in ways that expand upon my past experiences. These competencies refer to creating vision and startegy; mobilizing people; upholding integrity and respect; collaborating with partners and stakeholders; promoting innovation and guiding change; and, achieving results.

In an effort to share what I’ve learned with other aspirating leaders, I thought I’d touch on these competencies from my own experiences through a new series on Key Leadership Competencies.

In today’s post, let’s talk about creating vision and strategy. ✨

As a Director, you’re not managing day-to-day tasks, you’re charting the course for the entire ship. Setting strategic direction involves envisioning the long-term goals, defining the path to success, and aligning all efforts toward a common vision. It’s about navigating the big picture and making tough decisions that shape the future.

What does this look like in action?

Directors orchestrate resources, empower teams, and foster innovation. But to do so effectively requires a horizontal view that must be maintained and well understood. A horizontal view allows leaders to consider various factors, perspectives, and stakeholders across the organization. This broader outlook ensures that the vision and strategy are inclusive and address the diverse needs and concerns of different teams and stakeholders. This view can ensure that the vision and strategy align with the overall goals and mission of the organization, but also the priorities for your Branch and career goals of your staff. It further prevents isolated efforts that might divert resources away from the main objectives. Finally, it allows for strategies to be adaptable to ever-shifting landscapes, which you can mitigate better when maintaining such a view.

Experience in setting strategic direction is essential as it directly impacts results and team management. A well-crafted strategy provides clarity, boosts motivation, and guides the team’s collective efforts. So while as a Director you’re not necessarily involved in the day to day, how you create the vision and related strategies for your team directly impacts this.

A Director needs to also then be able to transform abstract implementation strategies into tangible, actionable objectives. A skilled leader does so by communicating with crystal-clear clarity and unwavering conviction. They ensure that every team member, from the top of the hierarchy to the newest recruit, comprehends the vision. This shared understanding fosters a unity of purpose that can propel your team forward.

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Creating vision and strategy is not limited to leadership. In your career, you’ll gain experience doing so at various levels. This will serve you well long-term.