The Leader is the Steward of the Strategy
Strategic planning takes time, energy, and resources. You gather insights, bring stakeholders to the table, and chart a meaningful course for the future. But once the retreat ends and the strategy is approved by the board, something troubling often happens: the plan is eclipsed by a heavy workload, burning challenges, and shiny new ideas.
It’s not that leaders don’t care about strategy—it’s that unrelenting demands pull attention elsewhere. The irony is that the strategic plan can help mitigate these issues, if you use it as a compass and decision-making tool.
As the leader, you carry the responsibility to steward it forward—for your team, your board, and your stakeholders. It’s up to you to keep it alive—not just as a document, but as a driver of impact.
Guiding Light, watercolor by Ian Mutton
Here are five ways to weave strategy into the fabric of your leadership.
Update initiatives and tactics annually. Strategic priorities may span three to five years, but the actions underneath them should evolve each year. Refreshing tactics keeps your plan relevant, responsive, and agile.
Align tactics with employee accountabilities. Connect strategic goals directly to individual performance goals. When every team member sees how their work ladders up to the bigger picture, engagement and ownership grow.
Create a litmus test for new ideas. Before launching a new program or partnership ask, “Does this align with our strategic priorities?” If not, it may be a distraction rather than a driver.
Report progress regularly. Make strategy a standing agenda item in monthly staff meetings. Have the team share updates on key initiatives, highlight their progress, and address challenges openly.
Keep the board engaged. Provide mid-year and year-end updates at a minimum, and don’t wait to share if you have obstacles—or good news. The board should feel connected to both the vision and the journey.
When leaders treat themselves as stewards of the strategy, they ensure the plan becomes more than words on a page. It becomes the lens through which decisions are made, progress is measured, and impact is sustained.
If you’re ready to move from planning to practice, we can help. Let’s talk about how our StrategyMap process can keep your strategy alive and working for your organization.