I'm not a very strategic person, although I do not lack goals, determination and plans on how to reach my goals. I wrote one of my Master's theses on strategy, and originally specialized in security policy in part because I was so fascinated by Sun Tzu's and Clausewitzs' books on strategies in wars (surreal time-warp feeling while I type this, as I now work in such a different field).
It's strange to be interested in strategy, but lack skills in it. I still lack the ability to understand that other people have motivations - personal and organizational, and that I need to take these into account when working with people. After ten years of working, it's strange to still have "aha" moments when I realize that we do not all work for the same cause, in the same way. We compete in an awfully large number of issues, even when working on one single small project.
Strategic thinking - understanding also the moves of your "enemies" (in war), or "colleagues" (hmmm - what a parallel…) - is probably vital to success in the workplace. It's about knowing how to wiggle through, how to feeds some of others' needs while sticking to your own, knowing how to avoid constantly running into walls or creating counter-productive reactions and in-fights….
In part, it's about understanding people's actions in a more objective way. I tend to emotionalize, and react emotionally. "Why is someone trying to ruin my problem, and be mean?" When in real life, most of the time a more strategic person will think: "Some of our goals conflict. How can we compromise, trade, avoid larger conflicts, and still attain our goals?"
(Although sometimes people - also colleagues - are just plain mean and evil, trying to ruin projects and others just because they can, or enjoy doing so! And they can join my "never trust this person" list, and will stay on it for a very, very long time. And they will never transition from the "strategic colleague" group to "a friend beyond work" list.)
Talk about motivations, I felt a jolt yesterday when I read this: http://www.newsweek.com/2014/05/30/somaly-mam-holy-saint-and-sinner-sex-trafficking-251642.html. It's a lengthy article but fascinating and upsetting and important all at once. I can't believe the news - I had read Mam's book while working in Cambodia and I was truly touched. I fell for her 'halo.' This article leaves so many questions... over motivations, over effects. Another shock to me was that many of my Cambodia-based friends reacted to this story with these words: "Finally the truth is out." Clearly it's been a public secret that Mam's mission is so flawed. Like you said, you think and clearly wrongly assume that other people will have the same motivations, especially when working for "the common good." It's a sad realization and a wake up call but at the same time we just have to keep going, checking our own motivations, and believing hard - honest - work will pay off - if not in our paychecks, then at least with a clear conscience.
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