The secret word is strategy
What follows is probably going to be controversial. And it will probably be taken out of context, or dismissed out-of-hand because of the name of this blog. But what I’m going to tell you is both subtle and powerful and must not be misused or abused, though I’m quite sure it will be and probably currently is.
Enough with the intrigue, the title of this post ought to have clued you in already. If you are having a discussion, argument or other conversation in a business context, you will gain immediate credibility from all bystanders if you are the first to claim that your point of view is, wait for it, strategic.
Sure it’s a trivial rhetorical trick (”the terrorists have won”, anyone?), but it still works. By claiming the strategy ground, regardless of whether it’s justified1, your conversational counterpart will be left with what? I’ll tell you what: implied reactionary kneejerking, that’s what. And who wants to be a reactionary kneejerker? Not me, and probably not you. Solution: claim strategic vision.
Your conversational counterpart, realizing that they’ve been duped, may try to reclaim the strategy ground, but it will be too late. The beauty of claiming strategy early is that those within earshot will be suitably impressed with your moxie and vision. And they’ll cast an equal amount of scorn upon any pretenders (ie, your conversational counterpart) to your rightfully earned strategic throne.
1As always, there are caveats. The primary one being that if you use this trick without actual strategy to back it up, you will eventually be discovered and wholly discounted as a kook, if not actually tarred and feathered. Use at your own risk.
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POSTED IN: communication, management, management hack, satire, tips and tricks
5 opinions for The secret word is strategy
JASon
Jan 22, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Remind me to never be your “conversational counterpart.” :-)
kflowers
Jan 23, 2007 at 7:20 am
I hear “it’s strategic” all the time and translate it to “I don’t have a business case for this, but want to do it anyway.” The judo retort is “help me understand how this eventually helps us get more money than not doing it.” When there is a good answer, it really is strategic.
Bren
Jan 23, 2007 at 7:53 am
@JASon, there’s no escape for you.
@kflowers, excellent question for followup!
John Wesley
Jan 23, 2007 at 10:08 am
Very interesting ’strategy’. I have to agree, simply implying that you’ve thought a few steps ahead is enough to convince most people to defer. A very Machiavellian tactic.
Also, I’m thrilled to make the link harvest. I just found your site today and subscribed. Us slackers need all the help we can get.
Sonya
Jan 25, 2007 at 5:46 am
Oh, boy…if you toss around the word ’strategy’ enough, at some point, someone is going to ask you exactly what your ’strategy’ is. I agree, throw it around at your own risk! Or, make darn sure you have something tangible and worthwhile to back it up.