Tactics are the things we do. Strategy guides our tactics. The right strategy is essential to make your tactics effective. For example, choosing to spend more time in your strengths is a strategy. The techniques you use to perform your tasks are the tactics. Focusing on your strengths improves the results from your tasks. The following are solutions at a glance for strategies:
How to choose strategies for more effective results
Ask yourself what you want to accomplish instead of what you are trying to do. Measure results by what works. The key is to test and evaluate your results and adapt to improve iteratively. Find and test strategies that help you spend more time on the right things, producing the right results, in a way that’s sustainable for you.
How to shift from time-based to value-based
Spending more time doesn’t necessarily produce more value. It’s not whether you put in 40 hours or 60 hours. It’s the results you produce. Spend less time by working on the most valuable things and finding the most effective way to achieve results. If the value is for you, check what you’re trading against. You can only spend your time and energy on so many things. If the value is for somebody else, be sure to check what they really value. If they have a lower bar, it’s easy for you to over-engineer. If they have a higher bar, you could miss their expectations. Finding the bar will help you avoid over-investing or under-investing.
How to shift from productivity to results
Focus on the results you’re getting instead of just on productivity. If you’re not getting the results you want, change your approach. It’s easy to be busy and feel productive when, in fact, you aren’t actually making any real progress toward the right goal. Use your results as a yardstick.
How to flow incremental value
Chunk your results down. Instead of monolithic or big-bang results, find ways to make incremental progress. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but each day, pieces of it were. You want to bite off chunks that you can quickly start and finish. This will help you bring more things to completion. It helps you build momentum. It builds confidence for you and others that you can produce effective results.
How to shift to timeboxing
Time limits can help you make sure you’re spending enough time on one thing, and not too much time in another. If you throw time at problems, you don’t find the most effective technique. If you throw time at problems, you throw other areas of your life out of balance. Timeboxing is a strategy that helps you optimize the time you spend and spend your time in the right places.
How to shift to strengths from weaknesses
Spend more time improving your strengths, than improving weaknesses. You’ll improve more by spending time in your strengths, and you’ll keep your energy strong. The exception is if you have a weakness that limits you or acts as a liability, preventing you from achieving the results you want. Eliminate activities that make you weak. Add more activities that make you strong. Consolidate activities that make you weak as best you can.
How to pace yourself
Know whether you are running a marathon, a sprint, or a series of sprints. Pace yourself for the long haul. The key is to find a sustainable pace.
