Are You a Great Strategist – Or a Great Human Being?

Okay. That’s harsh. Yup. It is. Does it count that I’m being harsh with myself first? And foremost?

Here’s the thing. When I started out in public service, I said what I thought.  Now, I was raised right – so I said what I thought, but I said it politely and patiently and in a quiet spoken manner.

Fast forward to the last decade. I have been fortunate enough to build a reputation as a trusted and skillful strategist. I predict issues. I manage issues. I develop plans. I implement plans. I make stuff happen. Of course this is not done in isolation – it’s done with team members. Many of whom are also excellent strategists.

And yet. And yet. The better strategist I’ve become the more I feel that I’ve lost my twenty-something self who called it as she saw it. Don’t get me wrong, I still call it as I see it. However, I now first have that internal conversation with my strategic self. I mind map things. I say, what if this. What if that. What about the timing?  I do this. A whole lot. I think of the right message and the best way to structure it, contextualize it, deliver it.

Now, many would say that doing this is just plain smart. And perhaps it is. Certainly it has served me well in my work. But I ask you this:  as you’ve become a better strategist, have you lost your way as an authentic human being?

I’ve witnessed people say things that are strategic and kinda, sorta, maybe a little bit truthful. “Oh, the beautiful work they did on that project”, they say. And yet, you know they thought that project sucked. Bit the big one. Stunk to high heaven. And they refused to take part in it or support it. They even spoke against it. So what gives with the, “beautiful work” bull pucky?

I’ll tell you what gives – they’re being a strategist instead of being authentic. Does that mean they should instead say, “Oh, the crap work they did on that project.”? No. No it doesn’t. But a little authenticity would help. “I’m not a fan of that project or its goals, but I do think they did some really good work on it.” See? Isn’t that better? I mean, come on, it’s grounded in the truth and still embraces strategic thinking.

These masterful manipulators are good at what they do. So good, you may not realize what they’re doing. Certainly I’ve been fooled by them more than a few times. They may utter, with conviction, “I completely support you and your project.” Yet, you know damn well that behind closed doors, they’re throwing you under the biggest bus that ever rolled down the hall of your office. Your building. Your territory.

So, yes, be a masterful strategist. But be a good human, too. Stop being a masterful manipulator. Leave the strategy where it belongs and start having authentic conversations with your colleagues. It may not be as smooth or slick as your manufactured and faux endorsement, but it will be better in every way that truly counts.

Think I’m naïve? Yeah. Maybe so. But I choose to be a really good human being AND a great strategist. I believe I can be both.

Tracy McCabe is part of the GovLoop Featured Blogger program, where we feature blog posts by government voices from all across the country (and world!).