Strategic vs Tactical decisions
What and when to make certain decisions
Tactical vs. strategic, or short-term vs. long-term decision-making. Jocko Willink discusses this idea in his podcast with Echo Charles here.
This episode of Jocko’s podcast made me rethink how I view and prioritize my goals and scheduled events.
One illustration he offers goes as follows: You have a book that you are writing that is due in 6 months, but you also have a podcast that you have to research for tomorrow’s episode. Which task do you do first? If you were like me, you would have said that you should do the task that is due tomorrow first rather than the task that is due in 6 months.
This is where my understanding shifted: what Jocko suggests you do is the long-term, strategic task first. then proceed with the short-term tactical task.
I like to think of a strategic decision as something that will put you in the correct position for optimal leverage in a given situation; it is something that isn’t for now but will come into play later, much like playing several moves ahead in chess. A tactical decision is one that involves making the best immediate decision you can given the best resources and information that you have at the time.
Think about decades and act on moments.
Tactical decisions must be made all of the time, but if you are only making tactical and never strategic decisions, you will find yourself in a metaphorical field surrounded by enemies with no cover. You can be as tactical as you want, but you will probably lose. as opposed to thinking strategically and placing yourself in a position of optimal leverage, i.e., high ground, controlling a choke point, or setting up a flank.
Think of when Obi-wan was fighting Anakin in the third Star Wars episode. Anakin, the apprentice, was technically stronger than Obi-Wan, hence his quote, “You underestimate my power," but Obi-Wan ends up winning by locating himself in a better position; hence, I have the high ground.
If you find yourself fighting an uphill battle with very few resources, no friends, little strength, and no time, then it is mandatory to start thinking strategically. Long-term, you have to figure out where you want to be in the next few weeks, months, and years.
If you do not do this, you will be exhausted by the number of tactical decisions you will have to make all of the time, and you will get decision fatigue and tunnel vision.
Flying by the seat of your pants, problem solving, and improvising will only take you as far as the next crisis; you need to beat the crisis.
Prioritize and execute: Jocko Willink.
If you want to know how to do this, get some journals and start writing stuff down, especially what you want to do in your life, like yesterday’s post.
Start reading good books and listening to good podcasts.
Like the Jocko Podcast, Jordan Peterson, Modern Wisdom, DOAC, and anything Youtube sends you after listening to a few of those.
Take action. Let’s go.