Basically what I'm saying is, if you're issuing a lot of orders then your fleet is simply not good enough and orders aren't the problem(or the solution)
I guess that is the case though I had hopes that you can mostly rely on tactic.
You can rely on tactics to a certain extent, but you will need to even the odds a bit for them to be effective.
Use the pause function to plan out your tactics. You can use 1 command point to issue as many orders as you need, as long as the battle is paused.
Think in more general terms when you plan your battle, don't micromanage. Use your tough, slower ships to set up a battle line. Use your faster offensive ships to take out key targets.
I also recommend looking up line warefare, try HistoryMarche on youtube. Many of the tactics used in historic battles can be used in Starsector, as long as your fleet is properly outfitted and you get the hang of how orders work.
Do NOT overuse the escort command, I see newbies and youtubers make this mistake all the time.
And(in general) do NOT use fast strike ships(fury, shrike, tempest, LP Brawler, ect) as escorts. Escort hampers mobility and offense, and is best left to a particular group of ships.