30. Stop Trying to Be Right: How Strategic Thinking Actually Works at Work

Stop Trying to Be Right: The Strategic Shift That Gets Your Work to Move Most people think being strategic means having the best idea. But at work, the best idea doesn’t always win. In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin breaks down why smart, capable people often get labeled as “not strategic” and what’s actually going on underneath it. The issue isn’t your thinking. It’s how decisions really get made. When you focus only on what’s right, you can miss what will actually move. And that’s where frustration starts. You’ll learn: Why “not strategic” feedback usually means your ideas aren’t landing The difference between having the right idea and getting buy-in How to identify what success actually looks like in a meeting Why leaders respond to constraints and metrics, not just good thinking A simple way to shift your approach so your work gets traction Reflection:Where am I focused on being right… instead of understanding what will actually move in this room?   📲 Subscribe & Stay Connected 📥 Download the Unlearning Work App for exclusive tools and behavior design resources🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform⭐ Leave a review if this episode resonated—it helps others discover the work📬 Join the Work Reimagined Newsletter for behind-the-scenes insights and free behavior frameworks📱 Follow Erin Merideth on Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Facebook for weekly leadership and behavioral science insights