Too Busy for Strategy? The Hidden Costs of ‘Just Doing’
How many times have you jumped into executing a project and thought that you “don’t have time for strategy”. Here’s the irony—without a documented strategy, execution can be chaotic, reactive, and inefficient. Even worse, you might not even realize where waste is occurring.
The Hidden Cost of No Strategy
When strategy is left undocumented, there can be a lack of alignment, decisions can become inconsistent, and resources are likely to be wasted. Instead of proactively steering the project toward team strategic goals, you might find yourself constantly putting out fires—re-explaining priorities, revisiting past decisions, and recalibrating efforts that should have been aligned from the start.
When you are working on multiple priorities, coordinating with cross-functional stakeholders, and managing compliance requirements, the cost of inefficiency can compound. Lack of strategic clarity leads to:
Delayed decision-making – Teams hesitate or second-guess priorities.
Wasted resources – Uncoordinated efforts result in redundant work.
Missed opportunities – Without a clear direction, market shifts and competitive insights go unnoticed.
Unclear communication - Misaligned goals and success measures make it difficult to communicate value.
Strategy as Your Organization’s Memory
Beyond efficiency, a written strategy serves as an organizational memory. Documentation derisks turnover, which is more inevitable today—key leaders, scientists, and project managers move on. Without a written strategy, institutional knowledge moves on with them.
Think of a documented strategy as a living blueprint, rather than a bureaucratic chore. Different from a charter document, a key component is a summary of the background influences leading to the approach. It ensures that the work is designed to meet the objectives. It captures:
The “why” behind decisions – ensuring continuity even as leadership changes.
Past lessons learned – so teams avoid repeating mistakes.
A roadmap for execution – making alignment easier and faster.
When leaders take the time to document strategy, they don’t just make execution smoother; they ensure that today’s insights power tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
Still think there’s no time for strategy? The real question is: Can you afford not to?
Don't let a lack of strategy hinder your team's success. Take the time to document your strategy and avoid the hidden costs of 'just doing.
Need to help your team be more strategic? Schedule a call today!
