An important difference between Leaders and Managers is their perception of SpaceTime.
Leaders observe from a greater strategic distance so they have a wider horizon and they see more pattern and less detail. They see the forest rather than the trees. Managers observe from a closer tactical vantage so they have a narrower horizon and see less context but they see more detail. Both maps are needed – broad brush and fine detail – but the map need to match the task and the person: sometimes the detail is critical; sometimes the detail is confusing.
The same is the case for both Space and Time. Strategic space is global – tactical space is local. Strategic time is proactive – tactical time is reactive. Leaders Inspire and Plan the Work – Managers Perspire and Work the Plan.
It is interesting to observe what can happen when the same tool is applied in a strategic and in a tactical context. An example is the RAG (Red Amber Green) method for reporting status. The principle is that the colour indicates what to do: Green = Relax; Amber = Alert; Red = React.
Sounds easy enough so what is the problem?
The RAG method is designed to indicate our current status but status of what? Our current position or our current course? Our course is given by a series of positions recorded over time on a chart – as a picture – and we use that to help us navigate – to plan an effective and efficient course to our intended destination. Unexpected things can happen though – we can get swept and blown off course and we may come across an unexpected or unpredictable obstacles on our intended course. So we need to be able to navigate our way to our original destination by a new route. So imagine what could happen if we were only able to compare our current position with our target position and we only work to stay on target. We would be unable to adapt to a dynamically changing or unpredictable strategic context – we would be unwise to go off position because we would get lost.
So if we do not want to lose our way then we must ensure we know what our RAG is telling us – our position or our course.