“To think strategically is to think with discipline and make informed decisions about the direction you want to go" - John Wood
Thinking strategically is a learned skill. You develop strategic savvy by asking smart questions, digging for answers and looking past assumptions or “truths” that limit your perspective.
You’ve probably never given much thought to your strategic thinking process. It’s non an easy-to-evaluate skill, like typing or writing memos. But now that you’re a leader, you must demonstrate your ability to think outside the box and attack challenges with intellectual vigor. Get in the habit of asking penetrating questions to your team and giving them the time to research the answers. The more you ask, the more you and they will learn.
Running a SWOT analysis helps you think strategically. Identifying the pros and cons, along with the opportunities and dangers that might arise, enables you to assess how to proceed. Involve your team in this exercise. Welcome their input and brainstorm freely. This gives everyone a change to make each other smarter.
- The following are some tips to improve your strategic thinking :
Dig down at leas three layers : look deeper than just the surface of the problem. Keep asking “why” until you find the root cause. - Perform triage : focus only on the most compelling, revealing strands of information to avoid getting buried in a dumping ground of data.
- Weigh all sides – and all consequences : think ahead to identify the repercussions of a strategic decision.
source : The Manager's Handbook – McGraw Hills
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