Your Strategic Talent: Spotting the Best Way Forward
"The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do." – Michael Porter
As a young kid, I remember going with my parents to our local travel agent to plan trips out of state. This was before smartphones, of course. They would pull out a massive map - a chaotic mess of roads, highways, and towns - along with a highlighter to guide my parents through the best route to take.
That ability to highlight the best way forward from a tangle of options is the power of the "Strategic" talent theme.
Nestled in the Strategic Thinking Domain, the "Strategic" talent describes people who can quickly assess all available options and identify the best one. These individuals see patterns where others see complexity, anticipate potential obstacles, and adjust course with confidence and precision.
"Strategic" is my 6th talent, and I use it constantly. As a personal trainer, I could easily see a client’s movement patterns and know which exercises they needed for balance. As a yoga teacher, I could walk into a room and, within minutes, decide on a sequence of poses based on what I observed in my students. As a coach, I come to each session with several approaches in mind and, in the first few minutes, sort through them to find the right one. I thrive on options and complexity, which is why I enjoy collaborating with people high in "Ideation" and "Intellection"—my "Strategic" talent allows me to quickly sift through their ideas and find the best path forward.
If you have this talent in your Top 5, your mind likely works like a GPS: once you set a destination, you can quickly sort through the available routes and select the one that avoids obstacles and gets you there efficiently. "Strategic" is a forward-moving talent, focused on future possibilities and the steps to achieve them. As a result, you bring clarity and insight to situations where others feel stuck, simplifying complex challenges into actionable solutions.
“Strategic” in Action
"Strategic" vs. "Deliberative": Both talents are risk-averse, but "Strategic" finds a path forward to avoid obstacles, while "Deliberative," in the Executing Domain, reduces risk by thoroughly considering potential pitfalls.
"Strategic" vs. "Maximizer": Both talents sort toward the best, but "Strategic" identifies the best path forward, while "Maximizer," in the Influencing Domain, focuses on refining something good to make it excellent.
Leverage the “Strategic” Talent
Lead with “Strategic”
You excel at cutting through complexity to find the best path forward. When others feel overwhelmed by too many options, your ability to identify the best course of action provides clarity and confidence to your team. Use this gift to clarify priorities, anticipate obstacles, and guide others toward success.
However, your quick decision-making may feel abrupt to those who prefer a more methodical process. Take time to explain your reasoning and invite others into your thought process to build trust and alignment.
Work with “Strategic”
You thrive in environments where decision-making and planning are critical. Your ability to weigh possibilities and adapt to change makes you a valuable strategist and problem-solver. Seek roles that allow you to take the lead in navigating uncertainty, solving challenges, and setting a clear direction.
Be mindful of overthinking or second-guessing your choices. Balance your adaptability with a willingness to commit to a plan and follow through.
Live with “Strategic”
Create space for reflection to recharge from constant planning. Align your life with meaningful long-term goals while balancing them with small, daily joys to stay grounded in the present. Recognize when to relax your need to plan and embrace spontaneity, or let others take the lead occasionally. Use your talent to strengthen personal relationships by collaborating on plans and tackling challenges together, but set boundaries to avoid overthinking decisions.
Coach Someone with “Strategic”
When coaching someone with the "Strategic" talent high, honor their ability to envision outcomes and trust their instincts about the best way forward. Help them balance planning with action, ensuring they take steps along their chosen path. Encourage them to explore a variety of options - the more they generate, the more their talent can shine in identifying the best one. Once they select a course of action, guide them to "own" their choice to prevent overthinking. Support their adaptability by framing setbacks as opportunities to refine their approach. Give them permission to share ideas imperfectly, and challenge them to articulate their vision clearly so others can align with it.
Discover the Strength of Your “Strategic” Talent
Do you excel at finding the way forward when others feel lost? Is "Strategic" one of your top talents?
The CliftonStrengths assessment can help you identify and understand your natural talents. Start your strengths journey today and gain personalized insights to use your talents with confidence.
👉 Discover your Top 5 Talents
👉 Unlock all 34 of Your Talents
Want to go even deeper? Strengths coaching can help you embrace your talents, communicate your value, and create meaningful impact.
✨ Ready to lead with clarity and focus? Schedule your free discovery call today and get your CliftonStrengths assessment included!
