Most engineers spend their days executing, jumping from meeting to meeting and task to task, yet still feel stuck when it comes to career growth. But what if the problem isn’t your technical skill? What if it’s the way you’re thinking and the conversations you’re having?

In this episode of Engineering Better Conversations, Nancy Michieli sits down with Melissa Creede, executive coach and leadership expert, to break down the real difference between strategy and tactics and why so many engineers and project managers stay stuck in execution mode. From ineffective meetings to reactive work patterns, Melissa shares the simple but powerful shifts that move professionals from doing the work to leading it.

From strategic thinking to intentional conversations, Melissa shares:

• Strategy vs tactics and why most engineers stay stuck in execution mode
• Why meetings fail to create progress and what to do differently
• The one question that changes conversations: what would success look like
• The difference between reactive work and intentional leadership
• Why putting time in your calendar to think is the habit most people avoid

🎬 Timeline

00:00 Intro — Why Most Meetings Go Nowhere

01:10 What Is a Strategic Conversation?

02:25 Tactical vs Strategic Conversations Explained

03:30 The Question That Changes Everything: “What Would Success Look Like?”

05:00 Why Meetings Fail (And How to Fix Them)

07:00 The 3 Questions Every Leader Should Ask Before a Meeting

09:30 Why Being Strategic Is About Intentionality

11:00 Strategy vs Tactics in Organizations

13:00 The Power of Vision and Thinking Bigger

16:00 Why Most People Don’t Think Strategically

18:30 The Hidden Cost of Reactive Work

20:00 The Habit People Resist Most (But Need Most)

22:00 How to Create Strategic Thinking Time

24:00 Tactical vs Strategic To-Do Lists

26:00 Why Stepping Away Improves Thinking

29:00 Brain States and Strategic Thinking

31:00 Creating Rituals for Strategic Work

33:00 Strategy for Personal Growth and Leadership

36:00 Who Do You Need to Become?

39:00 The Power of Conversations in Leadership

42:00 From Execution to Influence

45:00 Growth Through Discomfort and New Experiences

47:00 Strategic Leadership and Social Impact

50:00 About Melissa Creede & Closing

🤝 About the Guest

Melissa Creede is an executive coach and leadership expert who helps executives, businesses, and leaders develop strategic thinking, intentional leadership, and meaningful impact. With a 30-year career spanning Fortune 50 companies to global social initiatives, she brings both visionary thinking and practical strategies to help professionals move beyond reactive work and into purposeful leadership.

🔗 Connect with Melissa:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissacreede/

Website: https://sapis.ca/

Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Your-Inbox-Intentional-Leadership-ebook/

🎧 About the Show

Engineering Better Conversations is where technical and project leaders learn to speak so people listen. Hosted by Nancy Michieli, engineer turned executive communication coach, the show explores how clarity, influence, and human communication drive real leadership results.

🔗 Connect with Nancy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancymichieli/

Website: https://www.nancymichielicoaching.com/

Newsletter: https://www.engineeringbetterconversations.com