Short Term/Long Term/Tactical/Strategic

One of the ways I like to think and act is to use the following quadrant. On some kind of interval basis, usally a week or a month, I look and categorize the things that I did and put them in the quadrant.





If I find myself most of the time in the lower left quadrant (i.e. short term tactical), then I know I need to step back and focus on other quadrants as well. Since I am in middle management, I don't get to focus in the upper right quadrant all the time(i.e. long term strategic).

The key is to operate in all qudrants over a period of time so things are not lost.
Depending on your role and charter, you will have to see where you need to spend your time.

People who are stressed out most of the time tend to stayin the short term tactical quadrant. People who do the big picture and nothing else tend to float in the long term strategic quadrant.

But the key point is for you to spend time in all quadrants consummate to your role for long term career growth.