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Strategic Focus - Competency

Definition: Strategic focus is the ability to analyze complex challenges, determine the best approach to achieving organizational goals, and proactively address risks that impact operations. It involves scanning internal and external environments, formulating corporate-level strategies, and aligning projects with the company's vision, mission, and values to ensure long-term success. Effective strategic focus mobilizes leadership to implement change, coordinate cross-functional teams, and leverage SWOT analysis to refine decision-making and drive sustainable growth.
Organizational Skills
Business Acumen
Strategic Focus
Strategic Insight
Entrepreneurship
Company
Organizational Fluency
Fiscal Management
Planning
Vision
Global Perspective
360-Feedback Surveys Measuring Strategic Focus:
Survey 1 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 2 (4-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 3 (5-point scale; Competency Comments)
Survey 4 (5-point scale; radio buttons)
Survey 5 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 6 (4-point scale; words)
Survey 7 (5-point scale; competency comments; N/A)
Survey 8 (3-point scale; Agree/Disagree words; N/A)
Survey 9 (3-point scale; Strength/Development; N/A)
Survey 10 (Comment boxes only)
Survey 11 (Single rating per competency)
Survey 12 (Slide-bar scale)
Survey 13 (4-point scale; numbers; floating anchors)
Survey 14 (4-point scale; N/A)
Self-Comments: Do you have to complete a self-assessment or performance appraisal? If so, the
self-comments here may help.
Performance Assessments that include Strategic Focus:
Assessment 1 (5-point scale; IDP Comments)
Assessment 2 (3-point scale with Comments)
Assessment 3 (Manager Assessment; 360-Feedback)
Assessment 4 (3-point scale; Rating Limits)
Assessment 5 (3-point scale; Rating Limits)
Assessment 6 (5-point scale with Comments)
Assessment 7 (Comment Boxes Only; IDP)
Assessment 8 (Comment Boxes Only)
Assessment 9 (3-point scale with Letter Grade)
Assessment 10 (360-Feedback; Bonus/Merit Pay)
Assessment 11 (Core Values & Job Competencies)
Assessment 12 (4-point scale; 6 Comment Boxes)
What is Strategic Focus?
Strategic Focus involves analyzing the current environment and thinking strategically about the best way to achieve desired goals. It requires scanning/monitoring the situation to develop an awareness of what is working, or not working. Next, a strategy needs developed and implemented.
What questionnaire items on a 360-degree assessment would measure strategic focus?
The questionnaire items below will measure strategic focus. These questions are grouped into different parts of strategic focus. When creating a 360-degree or other performance assessment, try to select one or two items from each group.


Strategic Analysis
Strategic Analysis focuses on evaluating external and internal factors to identify competitive advantages, assess risks, and support data-driven decision-making. This dimension highlights analyzing industry trends, conducting competitor assessments, leveraging strategic tools (e.g., value chain analysis), identifying weaknesses, and understanding potential threats. It prioritizes assessment and intelligence-gathering, ensuring that organizations make well-informed, evidence-based strategic choices.


Strategic Thinking
Strategic Thinking emphasizes developing innovative approaches, refining strategies, and determining the best course of action to achieve organizational goals. This dimension centers on resource optimization, improving efficiency, aligning strategies with financial objectives, understanding company positioning, and maintaining long-term focus. It prioritizes vision and planning, ensuring leaders proactively shape the future direction of their organization.


Awareness
Awareness focuses on identifying key strategic factors, risks, and opportunities that shape the organization's ability to compete and grow. This dimension highlights recognizing competitive strengths, analyzing market positioning, assessing operational bottlenecks, and understanding external influences that affect success. It prioritizes insight and strategic recognition, ensuring leaders proactively identify areas for improvement and innovation.


Scanning/Monitoring
Scanning/Monitoring emphasizes actively tracking performance metrics, market trends, and organizational developments to support continuous strategy refinement. This dimension centers on monitoring financial objectives, adjusting plans based on new information, overseeing progress toward milestones, and scanning external and internal environments for opportunities. It prioritizes evaluation and adaptability, ensuring the organization remains responsive to changing dynamics while sustaining strategic momentum.


Vision/Mission/Values Statements
Vision/Mission/Values Statements focuses on defining the organization's foundational principles, purpose, and long-term aspirations. This dimension highlights articulating the company's mission, setting strategic objectives, ensuring alignment with business goals, inspiring employees to adopt the vision, and forming partnerships that align with core values. It prioritizes identity and alignment, ensuring that teams operate under a shared vision and strategic framework.


Creating a Strategy
Creating a Strategy emphasizes developing actionable plans to achieve competitive advantage, operational success, and adaptability in a changing environment. This dimension centers on formulating business strategies, improving performance, pursuing innovation, assessing resource allocation, and responding to external market shifts. It prioritizes execution and competitive positioning, ensuring the company maintains growth and effectiveness while adapting to industry demands.


Implementation
Implementation focuses on translating strategic goals into action, ensuring that plans are effectively executed, and aligning teams and resources toward success. This dimension highlights communicating objectives, coordinating execution with stakeholders, setting deadlines, evaluating progress, and proactively addressing issues to ensure strategy is carried out smoothly. It prioritizes execution and operational alignment, ensuring that the strategic vision is put into practice.


Change
Change focuses on proactively adjusting strategies, staying ahead of industry shifts, and modifying plans to respond to evolving business environments. This dimension highlights anticipating market disruptions, making quick strategic decisions, aligning teams to new priorities, and maintaining flexibility in execution. It prioritizes agility and responsiveness, ensuring that companies remain competitive by continuously refining their approach.


Leadership
Leadership emphasizes crafting, shaping, and sustaining strategies that drive the organization forward, while influencing others to stay committed to long-term goals. This dimension centers on making strategic decisions, optimizing investments, maintaining focus on key priorities, mobilizing change, and ensuring adherence to performance targets. It prioritizes vision and influence, ensuring that leadership steers the organization in the right direction while making strategic choices that lead to competitive advantages.


SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis emphasizes evaluating an organization's internal and external environment to guide strategic decision-making. This dimension centers on identifying strengths and weaknesses within the company, assessing opportunities and threats in the marketplace, developing structured planning models, and using analytical frameworks to determine the best course of action. It prioritizes assessment and strategy formulation, ensuring that organizations base their strategic moves on data-driven insights.
Want more Strategic Focus items?
View more Strategic Focus items here.