Episode 45: The Strategy That's Still in Your Head
From Communications Business Advisor by Tara McDonagh
April 20, 2026 · 20 min · Season 1 · Episode 41
About this episode
Tara McDonagh discusses the importance of documenting and aligning mental strategies for communications leaders to build authority and secure resources within their organizations.
In this follow-up to the long-term planning conversation, Tara McDonagh tackles a common but critical gap for communications leaders: having a strategy… that only exists in your head. You know where the function needs to go. You're making decisions based on it every day. But without documenting and aligning it with your organization, that strategy can't build authority, secure resources, or shape how leadership experiences communications. This episode explores why that happens, what it costs, and how to move from a mental plan to a strategic framework that actually works inside your organization. In this episode, Tara explores: Why a "mental strategy" isn't enough at senior levels The concept of advisory debt and how it limits authority The real reasons strategy stays undocumented What a written strategy actually does for your role and reputation Why plans fail (and end up sitting on a shelf) How to build alignment and keep strategy active Where to start when you're ready to get it out of your head The strategy in your head is a starting point. Authority is built when others can see it, align to it, and work from it. Keep advising. Always keep advising. Visit taramcdonagh.com to…
People in this episode
Host: Tara McDonagh
Topics covered
- strategy
- communications leadership
- organizational alignment
- advisory debt
- mental strategy
- professional development
Keywords
- strategy
- communications
- leadership
- alignment
- advisory debt
- planning
- professional development
Sponsors
Raise the Tide ™
More episodes of Communications Business Advisor
- Episode 44: Long-Term Planning Is Dead (No, It Isn't) · April 6, 2026 · 18 min
- Episode 43: Thinking Alone Has a Leadership Ceiling · March 23, 2026 · 20 min
- Episode 42: When Helpfulness Becomes a Career Ceiling · March 9, 2026 · 18 min
- Episode 41: When Everything Feels Heavy, You Might Need More · February 23, 2026 · 18 min
- Episode 40: Path to CCO+ with Laura Duda · February 9, 2026 · 45 min
- Episode 39: Path to CCO+ with Anthony Farina · January 26, 2026 · 58 min
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