Tactical Capacity: The Missing Piece in Prevention Success
When it comes to substance misuse prevention, good intentions are everywhere. We invest in training, build coalitions, and implement evidence-based programs. But despite these efforts, many initiatives struggle to create lasting impact. Why? Because traditional capacity building, while essential, often stops short of what we really need—tactical capacity.
In this episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast, Dave Closson explores how tactical capacity transforms prevention strategies from theory into real-world impact. Let’s dive in!
Why Traditional Capacity Building Falls Short
Traditional capacity building focuses on four key areas:
Knowledge – Training professionals on risk factors, trends, and best practices.
Skills – Developing expertise in planning, evaluation, and coalition building.
Resources – Securing funding, personnel, and tools.
Infrastructure – Establishing policies, partnerships, and organizational structures.
These elements are vital, but they only prepare us for action—they don’t ensure success in action. Real-world prevention work is unpredictable. Community priorities shift, barriers arise, and engagement can wane. Without tactical capacity—the ability to execute, adapt, and sustain prevention efforts—even the best-laid plans can fall short.
Think about it. Have you ever seen a well-designed program stall due to lost momentum, community resistance, or funding gaps? These aren’t knowledge or resource issues—they’re execution challenges. And that’s exactly what tactical capacity is designed to solve.
Watch the episode here:
What is Tactical Capacity?
Tactical capacity is what turns great ideas into lasting impact. It’s about ensuring prevention strategies don’t just look good on paper but actually work in practice. It consists of four key elements:
Strategic Execution – Breaking large initiatives into actionable, achievable steps. This includes identifying and overcoming barriers before they derail progress.
Situational Adaptability – Being flexible enough to pivot when necessary, adjusting messaging, tactics, and engagement strategies as community needs evolve.
Sustained Engagement – Keeping stakeholders involved beyond the initial excitement by making participation easy, relevant, and rewarding.
Precision and Alignment – Ensuring that actions align with real community needs, not just best practices. This shifts the focus from activity to impact.
Tactical Capacity in Action: A Tale of Two Communities
Let’s compare two communities launching the same substance misuse prevention program.
Community A:
Receives funding and training.
Implements an evidence-based campaign.
Faces resistance from some community members.
Struggles to sustain engagement.
Program loses traction over time.
Community B:
Receives the same funding and training.
Builds tactical capacity by preparing for execution challenges.
Adapts the campaign to align with local values and needs.
Keeps engagement high by making participation accessible and rewarding.
The program evolves over time, leading to lasting impact.
Both communities had knowledge, skills, and resources, but only Community B had tactical capacity. Their ability to execute, adapt, and sustain efforts made the difference.
How to Build Tactical Capacity
If we want to strengthen prevention efforts, we need to move beyond theory and focus on execution. Here’s how:
✅ Prioritize Execution Training – Go beyond traditional training and practice real-world application through role-playing, problem-solving exercises, and scenario planning.
✅ Develop Adaptive Thinking – Train teams to anticipate resistance and adjust strategies without losing momentum.
✅ Create Feedback Loops – Regularly assess and refine initiatives based on real-time results, ensuring strategies stay relevant and effective.
✅ Empower Teams to Make Decisions – Give prevention professionals the authority and flexibility to adapt strategies when necessary.
✅ Foster a Culture of Resilience – Prevention work is tough. Build teams that can push forward despite obstacles and challenges.
The Future of Prevention Success
Tactical capacity is the missing piece in prevention success. Traditional capacity building lays the foundation, but tactical capacity ensures execution, adaptation, and long-term impact.
If we want real change in our communities, we must shift our focus from simply learning prevention strategies to mastering prevention execution.
So, what steps will you take to enhance tactical capacity in your work?
🎧 Want to hear more? Listen to the full episode of the Prevention Leaders Podcast for deeper insights into tactical capacity and how you can apply it to your work.
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Let’s build not just well-trained teams, but effective ones.
