How can you Free up Space to Think Strategically?
July 17, 2025 | By David M. Wagner
I had the privilege recently of working with a nonprofit that supports court diversion programs for youth (think counseling and community service as an alternative to the court system and incarceration, to over-simplify it).
After our project, one part of the Director's feedback to me really stood out:
"[Working together] gave me the space and energy to switch into a more strategic mindset and make tough choices with confidence."
One of the biggest challenges facing busy mission-driven leaders is that managing the day-to-day leaves little time for thinking about the big picture.
The urgent can crowd out the important.
That increases the risk of making a misstep - overlooking an emerging problem, missing a critical opportunity, or just plain messing up.
That's why it's so important to step back, observe, and think critically about your team's direction.
I've offered some suggestions before to be more intentional with your time:
Use your calendar to your advantage. Dedicate time each month for thinking about the big picture. Schedule weekly working time for important-but-not urgent tasks. In chaotic environments, make a daily allotment for unexpected “crisis management.”
Recover even more time by fighting fewer fires. Rather than solving your team’s problems, coach them to find their own solutions. Delegate. And learn to triage which fires to fight, and which to let burn.
But as my client's feedback above suggests, it's not all about time. You need the energy to lead at your best, which you can recover by:
Taking breaks. When I recognize that my energy is waning, I’ve gotten better at stepping away from the task at hand and going on a short walk.
Scheduling breaks, transition, and overflow time. Back-to-back-to-back meetings take their toll. Build in time to prepare, reflect, and act.
Doing things later. Maintain your boundaries by pushing less-urgent tasks and meetings to a later time or date.
Do less. Some tasks may not require you to do them – or, to be done at all.
You may not need the help of a consultant to make more space for strategic thinking - though we should talk if that's what you need.
What works for you? How are you making the time - and energy - for stepping back and getting into a strategic mindset? I would love to hear your tips and suggestions!