From dance floor to balcony: A path to Strategic Thinking

 From Dance Floor to Balcony: A Path to Strategic Thinking

Sit tight, here comes the story:

Lila had spent years working hard at her company, balancing her full-time job with the demands of raising two kids. She knew every detail of her team's projects and was always the go-to person when things got tough. So when her manager called her into a meeting, she felt sure it was about her long-awaited promotion.

"Lila, you've done incredible work," her manager began. "Your dedication is unmatched, and everyone knows you're the glue that holds the team together."

Lila smiled, feeling the weight of her efforts finally paying off.

"But," the manager continued, "there's a concern. You're very much in the weeds. You're involved in every little detail, which has worked well so far. But in this new role, we need someone who can step back, be more strategic, have that helicopter view, you know? Right now, I’m worried that might be a struggle for you."

Lila’s heart sank. She had always prided herself on being hands-on, but now it seemed to be holding her back.

The manager softened. "I know you're capable of it, Lila. I just need to see you trust your team more, delegate more and start focusing on the bigger picture. I want to promote you, but you have to show me you can make that shift."

Lila left the meeting feeling conflicted. She knew she could rise to the challenge but wasn’t sure how to step away from being in the weeds. Plus, she loved being in the weeds. 

That afternoon, she left earlier and took her kids to the playground. Looking at her kids playing, she realized that just like at home, she had to learn when to be involved and when to let go. 

Lila’s challenge at work mirrored her life at home as a mom, wife, and daughter. She often found herself "in the weeds" there too, planning every meal, organizing the family’s schedule, and solving the daily problems that popped up. While it was rewarding to keep things running smoothly, she realized she was stuck in a cycle of micromanaging. Just like at work, she was deeply involved in the details but rarely stepped back to think about the bigger picture, what kind of life she wanted to build for her family long-term.

To make a shift, Lila needed to become more strategic at home, much like her manager suggested for work. She began by delegating more tasks to her husband and children, teaching them to take ownership of their responsibilities. Instead of getting overwhelmed by every small decision, she prioritized time to think about what really mattered: family goals, quality time, and creating a balanced household. By taking a “helicopter view” of her family life, she freed herself from the constant pressure of being involved in everything.

This shift at home directly translated to her professional life. Lila learned that being strategic meant trusting others, whether it was her team at work or her family at home. She saw that stepping back didn’t mean losing control but rather gaining a broader perspective. It allowed her to focus on what really drove success, both in her career and personal life. 

This new mindset helped her thrive in both areas, becoming not only a more effective leader at work but also a more present and fulfilled mom, wife, and daughter at home.

Let’s talk about this:

Just like Lila, I’ve experienced pivotal moments in my life where I had to learn how to apply strategic thinking across various areas, not just during career advancement but also in my pursuit of a more fulfilling life. I often wish I had learned to be strategic earlier; it would have saved me a lot of heartache. If only I had known how to step back from the weeds at the right moments and gain a broader perspective on my situation, I believe I would have built my resilience and navigated transitions more smoothly.

In this week's post, my goal is to share some practical tips that have helped me transition between being caught in the weeds and adopting a strategic mindset—and vice versa. It’s a two-way street that can come with bumps, curves, and dead-ends, but it’s an essential path to explore if we want to lead happy and fulfilling lives at work and at home.

In one of the episodes of Brene Brown’s podcast Dare to Lead (though I can’t recall the specific one), she uses an insightful analogy to emphasize how crucial it is for leaders to balance their perspective.

Consider a party with a dancing floor and a staircase that leads to a balcony. On the dancing floor you hear the beat of the music, what people are wearing, drinking, who they are talking to. This is where all the detailed actions are taking place (the tactical). The “dancing floor” represents being deeply involved in the day-to-day operations, whether it’s managing work, family responsibilities, or personal tasks. 

I’m sure many of you can relate to spending a lot of time on that dance floor. Women, in particular, often find themselves fully engaged in the operational aspects of life, tackling immediate challenges and managing the finer details. While these tasks are important, getting caught up in them can sometimes limit our ability to step back and think strategically about our long-term goals and aspirations.

Now, imagine strategic thinking as standing on a balcony looking down onto the dance floor. Picture strategic thinking as getting a bird’s-eye view from the balcony at the party. While everyone else is caught up in the heat of dancing on the floor, you’re up high, seeing it all: who’s dancing solo, which groups are sticking together, and even spotting trends like people wearing the same color. You’re not just in the moment; you’re seeing the whole scene unfold. 

This is the strategic perspective, where we can step away from the daily demands to envision the bigger picture of our career, personal growth, and future success. From this vantage point, we can assess what’s working, what needs adjustment, and how to align our current efforts with our broader vision of success.

To transition from the dance floor to the balcony, there’s a staircase. The ability to move up and down that staircase effectively is crucial for our success, not just as leaders, but as resilient, empowered women navigating through life. It’s essential to shift between these two perspectives to enhance our effectiveness. Balancing the detailed actions on the dance floor with the broader view from the balcony allows us to navigate challenges with greater insight and clarity.

If you leap off the balcony with just a big idea and no plan, you're in for a freefall! And if you're stuck on the dance floor looking up, climbing up to that balcony can feel like a huge challenge. It’s all about finding that sweet spot, knowing when to step up for the big picture and when to stay grounded and take action. 

If, as a leader, you are comfortable being strategic, be careful not to shout over the balcony to those below. They can’t hear you because the music on the dance floor is too loud. It’s an art to know when to zoom in (head down the stairs) or zoom out (head up the stairs). Plus, since not everyone feels equally comfortable in either the strategic or tactical space, great leadership also means helping others navigate those stairs simultaneously.

Balancing these perspectives is crucial for women navigating their careers and personal lives. While it’s essential to handle the details on the "dance floor," regularly stepping back to the "balcony" can clarify our goals, strengthen our decision-making, and equip us to face challenges more effectively. By cultivating this dual perspective, we can create a future that responds to immediate needs while paving the way for long-term fulfillment.

Are you ready to embrace both the dance floor and the balcony? 

Let’s take the first step:

• Let’s try to regularly carve out "balcony time”? This means stepping away from the day-to-day tasks to reflect on the bigger picture. Set aside 15-30 minutes each week to ask yourself: What’s working? What needs tweaking? Am I focusing on the right things to reach my goals (at work and with my personal life)? 

• We often juggle multiple responsibilities, including work, family, and personal goals. Strategic planning helps set boundaries, prioritize tasks, and allocate time for self-care and personal interests. Ready to maybe negotiate flexible work hours, divide household responsibilities, or planning ahead for your own personal development?

Resources:

Dare to Lead - Brene Brown’s podcast focuses on leadership, vulnerability, and courage in the workplace and beyond.