Tactics vs. Strategies — You MUST know the difference and how to use BOTH
You have likely used both of these words. Did you know most people use them interchangeably and incorrectly?
LET’S GET NERDY FOR JUST A SECOND: The terms tactics and strategies are often confused: tactics are the actual means used to gain an objective, while strategy is the overall campaign plan, which may involve complex operational patterns, activity, and decision-making that govern tactical execution.
What You Need To Know About Tactics and Strategies
Okay… now let’s de-nerd and talk about what you must know about tactics and strategies for business, life, and fitness.
Here are some situations that you encounter often and must master to reach the top of your game:
1. Let’s say you want to run a marathon. Your overall strategy (goal) is to finish, finish strong and place in the top 10 for your age division. The tactics you will use to accomplish this strategy include improved sleep, modified nutrition, specific strength training for long distance runners, speed training, long and slow steady runs, and tempo runs.
The smaller tactics will include improving the sleep environment, getting better shoes, chiropractic care, massage therapy and sports supplements. The strategy is the macro, and the tactics are the micro.
2. Another example could be a goal or strategy of growing your training or coaching business by 50% this year. The tactics you can use are Facebook ads, YouTube videos, Instagram, blogging, podcasting, writing articles, speaking gigs and networking. And, yes, the tactics also have many subsets of mini-tactics. And, those really matter.
3. If your strategy and long-term goal are to save $50k, you need specific tactics. Tactics can include reducing wasteful spending, increasing investments in your personal growth and education, and setting up an automatic deposit into your savings account each week or month.
This goes on and on…
How To Do It Right
HERE’S THE REAL ISSUE: Most people do one or the other, but often not both.
They may set a goal or objective and strategy to do ____________. Then, they omit the daily rituals, behaviors, principles, and tactics that lead to a successful outcome.
Or, they do a bunch of meaningless, aimless and thoughtless tactics without having them be congruent in any way. That is because there wasn’t a specific strategy created FIRST. This is very, very common among trainers and coaches. Sadly, I’ve seen this for decades. There is a lot of movement without the forward progress that is desired.
Start with the macro and work towards the micro in everything you want to accomplish. I am well aware that many of you like to focus on the details. However, if that’s where you start, you often never create the over-arching strategy that gives the structure needed.
If you like to start with the details (tactics), just write down a few things, then realize you’ll get back to them AFTER you create your big picture (strategy).
MY PROMISE TO YOU….. Follow this game plan and you will achieve even more of your life, health and business goals than ever before. GO!
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