Top 7 'Strategy-Visualizing' Remote Work Tools to master for shifting from 'doer' to 'leader' this year
Are you feeling stuck? You're a high-performer, smashing through your task list and delivering quality work. But when you look up, you see others moving into leadership roles while you're still deep in the weeds, known as the reliable "doer." In a remote or hybrid world, this problem is amplified. Your hard work can become invisible, and your strategic potential remains untapped and unseen.
The leap from 'doer' to 'leader' isn't about working harder. It’s about changing the kind of work you do—and more importantly, changing the visibility of that work. Leaders don't just execute tasks; they shape strategy, communicate vision, and connect the dots for everyone else. They make the complex simple and the future tangible. In a remote setup, you can't just walk over to a whiteboard to do this. You need a digital equivalent.
This is where 'strategy-visualizing' tools come in. These aren't just fancy project management apps or digital notepads. They are your canvas for demonstrating leadership-level thinking. They help you transform abstract ideas, complex data, and ambitious goals into clear, compelling visuals that command attention and build influence. Mastering them is your secret weapon for making your strategic value impossible to ignore this year.
Here are the top 7 strategy-visualizing tools you need to master to accelerate your journey from individual contributor to influential leader.
1. Miro: The Infinite Whiteboard for Collaborative Strategy
At its core, Miro is a digital whiteboard. But thinking of it that way is like calling a smartphone a device that makes calls. It’s an infinite canvas where you can brainstorm, map out user journeys, build org charts, run entire workshops, and consolidate research—all in one visually collaborative space. For an aspiring leader, this is your virtual war room.
A 'doer' uses a whiteboard for a to-do list. A 'leader' uses Miro to map the entire strategic landscape. Instead of just participating in a brainstorming session, you can facilitate one using Miro's templates. You can create a stakeholder map to identify key players for a new project, or build a customer journey map to pinpoint pain points and propose solutions. This is how you show you're thinking beyond your immediate tasks and about the bigger business ecosystem.
Pro-Tip: Don't wait to be asked. The next time your team is kicking off a project, proactively set up a Miro board. Use it to create a "Project Charter" that visually outlines the goals, scope, key stakeholders, and potential risks. Share the link with your manager and the team. This single act positions you as a strategic organizer, not just an executor.
2. Asana: The Blueprint for Turning Vision into Reality
Many people see Asana (or its counterparts like Monday.com or Trello) as a glorified to-do list. And for 'doers', that's often how it's used: check off tasks, update statuses, move on. But to a leader, Asana is a powerful storytelling tool that visualizes how high-level strategy connects directly to day-to-day execution.
The key is to master features beyond the basic task list. Learn to use Timeline (Gantt charts) to show not just what needs to be done, but when and in what sequence, revealing dependencies and potential bottlenecks. Use Portfolios to group related projects together and track their collective progress toward a larger company objective. Most importantly, use Goals to link your team's work directly to the company's OKRs.
Pro-Tip: Create a personal "Leadership Dashboard" in Asana. Create a Portfolio view for all the projects you're involved in. For each project, write a clear goal statement in the description. Use status updates not just to say "in progress," but to provide a concise summary of wins, challenges, and what's next. When your manager asks for an update, send them a link to this visual, well-organized dashboard. You're not just reporting on tasks; you're presenting a strategic overview of your domain.
3. Notion: The Central Nervous System for Team Knowledge
In any organization, information chaos is a constant threat. Documents are scattered across Google Drive, conversations are lost in Slack, and project plans live in different apps. A 'doer' navigates this chaos. A 'leader' tames it. Notion is the ultimate tool for this, allowing you to build a centralized, interconnected "wiki" or operating system for your team or project.
Think of it as a set of digital Lego bricks. You can build project trackers, document repositories, meeting note databases, and content calendars that are all linked together. It’s about creating a single source of truth. As I've learned from mentors like Goh Ling Yong, building systems that create clarity and reduce friction is a core leadership function. Taking the initiative to build a Notion hub for your project shows you care about team efficiency, alignment, and communication—hallmarks of a leader.
Pro-Tip: Start small. Identify a recurring point of confusion for your team—it could be "Where is the latest design file?" or "What are our Q3 goals?". Build a simple, clean Notion page that solves that one problem. Make it the go-to resource. As people see its value, you can expand it into a full-fledged team wiki or project hub. You become the architect of clarity.
4. Lucidchart: The X-Ray for Business Processes
Leaders don't just follow processes; they understand, question, and improve them. Lucidchart (or alternatives like Whimsical or FigJam) allows you to do just that by creating clear, professional flowcharts, diagrams, and process maps. This is the art of making the invisible "how" of your business visible to everyone.
When you're stuck in a 'doer' mindset, you're just a cog in the machine. When you can visually map out the entire machine—how a customer request becomes a resolved ticket, or how an idea becomes a shipped feature—you demonstrate a profound level of understanding. It shows you're thinking about efficiency, scale, and cross-functional collaboration.
Pro-Tip: Find a process in your team that's clunky, confusing, or inefficient. Maybe it's the onboarding process for new hires or the content approval workflow. Take the time to map out the current state in Lucidchart. Then, create a second diagram showing a proposed, streamlined future state. Present this "before and after" visual to your manager. It’s an incredibly powerful way to say, "I'm not just here to do the work; I'm here to make the work work better."
5. Tableau: The Storyteller's Data Canvas
Data is everywhere, but insight is rare. A 'doer' might pull numbers into a spreadsheet and report the facts. A 'leader' uses data to tell a persuasive story that drives action. Tableau (or more accessible tools like Google Data Studio or even advanced Excel charts) is your platform for turning rows of data into compelling visual narratives.
Mastering a tool like Tableau allows you to answer the "So what?" question. So sales are up 5%? Tableau helps you build a dashboard showing that the growth is entirely driven by one region, and that another is lagging—and here's a chart showing why. You move from being a data reporter to a data-driven strategist. This is one of the most sought-after skills in modern leadership.
Pro-Tip: You don't need access to massive company databases to start. Take a simple dataset you already work with—like weekly performance metrics or customer survey results. Instead of just sending the raw numbers in your next report, spend an hour creating a simple, clean dashboard in Google Data Studio. Use one bar chart, one line graph, and one key metric callout to highlight the most important trend. Add a one-sentence insight below each visual. You will immediately stand out.
6. Pitch: The Modern Stage for Your Big Ideas
Every significant career move starts with a successful pitch. You need to sell your ideas, your projects, and ultimately, yourself. Clunky, text-heavy PowerPoint slides are the language of the past. Modern presentation tools like Pitch or Canva are designed for a remote, visually-driven world. They emphasize collaboration, beautiful design, and clear, concise storytelling.
Using a tool like Pitch forces you to think like a leader. Its template-driven structure encourages you to be concise, to lead with the key takeaway, and to use strong visuals to support your points. It helps you craft a narrative, not just a collection of slides. When you present a polished, well-structured, and visually engaging deck, you project confidence and clarity—two traits that are non-negotiable for leadership.
Pro-Tip: Think of an idea you have for improving something at your company. It could be a small project or a new initiative. Create a super-short, 6-slide "One-Pager" deck in Pitch:
- Slide 1: The Problem (one sentence)
- Slide 2: The Opportunity/Solution (one sentence)
- Slide 3: How It Works (a simple diagram or 3 bullet points)
- Slide 4: Required Resources (what you need)
- Slide 5: Expected Outcome (what success looks like)
- Slide 6: Next Steps (a clear call to action)
Keep it on hand. The next time an opportunity arises, you're ready to present a professional, strategic proposal in minutes.
7. Loom: The Asynchronous Strategy Walkthrough
In a remote world, your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly without a meeting is a superpower. Email gets ignored, and Slack messages lack context. Loom allows you to record your screen, camera, and voice simultaneously, making it the perfect tool for an asynchronous "strategy walkthrough."
A 'doer' sends an email saying, "The report is attached." A 'leader' sends a 3-minute Loom video walking through the key insights of the report, hovering their cursor over the important charts and explaining the "why" behind the numbers. You can use it to explain a complex process flow you built in Lucidchart, give a pre-brief on a Miro board before a workshop, or present the Pitch deck you created. It respects people's time while ensuring your strategic thinking is delivered with context and personality. As Goh Ling Yong often advises, over-communicating with clarity is essential in a remote setting, and Loom is a master tool for this.
Pro-Tip: The next time you're about to send a complex document or analysis to your manager or team, pause. Record a short Loom video (under 5 minutes) summarizing the key points. Start by stating the goal of the document, walk through 2-3 highlights, and end with a clear statement on what you need from them (e.g., "feedback on this section by EOD"). The personal touch and added context will make your work ten times more impactful.
Your Strategy Is Your Story. Start Visualizing It.
Making the transition from 'doer' to 'leader' isn't a mysterious process. It's a conscious shift from focusing on the completion of tasks to the communication of strategy. In our increasingly remote world, the tools you use are the stage on which you perform that strategy.
Don't feel overwhelmed by this list. You don't need to become an expert in all seven overnight. The goal is to change your mindset. See every task, every project, and every piece of data as an opportunity to think and communicate at a higher level.
Pick just one tool from this list that excites you. Commit to mastering one of its "leadership" features this month. Maybe it's building your first Portfolio in Asana or mapping your first process in Lucidchart. Take that first step to make your strategic thinking visible. Because in the end, leaders aren't just the ones who do the work; they're the ones who can show everyone else the way forward.
What's your favorite tool for visualizing strategy? Share your go-to app and a quick tip in the comments below!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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