If Strategy Is So Important, Why Don’t We Make Time for It?

We have partnered with organizations across industries—utilities, nonprofits, and financial services—and repeatedly seen the same challenge: a gap between strategic plans and the systems needed to execute them. Leaders are often caught up in the demands of daily work, leaving little room to focus on The Work To Be Done.

What is The Work To Be Done?

The Work To Be Done combines two essentials: Leadership and Systems. Together, they help organizations balance day-to-day operations with long-term strategic goals.

• Leadership brings clarity, focus, and alignment to priorities.

• Systems provide the consistency and structure needed to make those priorities happen.

When leadership and systems work together, organizations create space for growth, innovation, and sustainability.

The Portfolio of Work: A Tool for Strategic Alignment

A Portfolio of Work is a simple yet powerful way to connect leadership and systems. It organizes the essential tasks, responsibilities, and deliverables across departments, ensuring everything ties back to strategic goals.

More than just a tool, a Portfolio of Work can highlight inefficiencies, streamline operations, and shift resources to what matters most.

The Challenge: Bridging Strategy and Daily Work

In her Harvard Business Review article, If Strategy Is So Important, Why Don’t We Make Time for It?, Dorie Clark points out an issue many leaders face: while strategy is clearly important, it often takes a backseat to meetings, emails, and urgent tasks.

This disconnect between plans and daily work leads to wasted resources, missed opportunities, and frustration. A Portfolio of Work bridges this gap by:

1. Freeing up time for strategic focus.

2. Helping eliminate tasks that don’t add value.

3. Creating clarity around priorities and goals.

Building a Portfolio of Work

The Portfolio of Work links daily tasks to strategic objectives, ensuring alignment and clarity across teams. Here’s what to include:

1. Core Services

• Essential tasks that keep the business running.

• Examples:

• Financial Services: Account management, risk assessment.

• Healthcare: Patient care coordination claims processing.

2. Strategic Initiatives

• Projects that directly support long-term goals.

• Examples:

• Financial Services: Implementing AI for fraud detection.

• Healthcare: Launching a telehealth platform.

3. Recurring Operational Tasks

• Routine activities that are part of the daily rhythm.

• Examples: Payroll, IT system maintenance.

4. Support Services

• Internal work that helps other teams succeed.

• Examples: HR onboarding, financial reporting.

5. Compliance and Risk Management

• Tasks that ensure the organization meets regulations and stays protected.

• Examples: Regulatory reporting, safety inspections.

6. Data and Analytics

• Activities focused on making informed decisions.

• Examples: Performance dashboards, customer satisfaction surveys.

7. Innovation and Growth

• Work that explores new ideas or builds a competitive edge.

• Examples: Fintech partnerships, precision medicine initiatives.

8. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Relationship-building work that fosters trust.

• Examples: Hosting events, donor programs.

9. Leadership and Governance

• Oversight and planning at the highest level.

• Examples: Board meetings, strategic planning sessions.

The level of detail should match your organization’s needs. Too little detail creates confusion; too much creates overwhelm. Aim for a balance that provides clarity and focus.

Steps to Build and Maintain a Portfolio of Work

You don’t need a big overhaul to get started—just take it step by step:

1. Collaborate with Teams
   Work with departments to list their key tasks and initiatives.

2. Link Work to Strategy
   For each item, ask: “How does this help achieve our goals?”

3. Define Ownership and Frequency
   Assign responsibilities and note how often tasks are performed (e.g., daily, monthly).

4. Set Metrics for Success
   Decide how you’ll measure progress and impact.

5. Assess for Value
   Look for tasks that don’t add value. Ask:

• Does this contribute to a strategic goal?

• Can it be streamlined or removed?

6. Reallocate Resources
   Free up time and energy for more important work by shifting resources from low-value tasks.

7. Keep It Relevant
   Regularly review and update the portfolio to match changing priorities.

The Path Forward: The Work To Be Done

Leadership and systems aren’t just checkboxes—they’re what make strategies achievable. The Portfolio of Work ties daily work to larger goals, creating clarity and helping teams focus on what matters most.

Start small. Build your Portfolio of Work, and use it to align your team, remove inefficiencies, and make meaningful progress.

What step will you take today to connect your daily work with your strategy?

Source
Inspired by Dorie Clark’s If Strategy Is So Important, Why Don’t We Make Time for It? (Harvard Business Review, 2018).