Nobody knows what it means to ‘be more strategic.’ Here’s why (and how) to explain it

Instead of giving vague directives, ask for specific, teachable, observable behaviors. Somewhere in your organization, right now, a manager is telling a team member to “be more strategic.” That team member says “Okay,” walks out of the room, and has absolutely no idea what that actually means. It would have been helpful if the manager had actually given a specific example or two, but that assumes the manager could define it themselves. Because that manager has likely heard the same feedback from their own leader.