ATD Blog
What Does It Take to Become a Strategic Thinker?
Wed Jun 15 2016
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The way you think will determine your success as a leader. In the last 30 days, have there been times when you have become frustrated with the way you decided to handle challenges and opportunities? The difference between those who succeed and those who fail often comes down to the way they think.
The way you think will determine your success as a leader. In the last 30 days, have there been times when you have become frustrated with the way you decided to handle challenges and opportunities? The difference between those who succeed and those who fail often comes down to the way they think.
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Thinking is an exercise. We need to exercise the way we think if we want to become smarter in the way we think. So how would you like to upgrade your thinking?
Thinking is an exercise. We need to exercise the way we think if we want to become smarter in the way we think. So how would you like to upgrade your thinking?
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There are many ways that people think. However, in this post I want to discuss the strategic thinker.
There are many ways that people think. However, in this post I want to discuss the strategic thinker.
The Strategic Thinker
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What comes to mind when you think of the word strategy ? Often it is applied to a project or task. However, imagine if you applied the term to your personal life—what would the benefits look like?
What comes to mind when you think of the word strategy? Often it is applied to a project or task. However, imagine if you applied the term to your personal life—what would the benefits look like?
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Strategic thinking is a learnable skill. Although you can develop it with a coach or mentor, you can also practice it in your daily life, using these four steps.
Strategic thinking is a learnable skill. Although you can develop it with a coach or mentor, you can also practice it in your daily life, using these four steps.
1. Plan Ahead to Stay Ahead
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If you want to become a strategic thinker, it will require planning. Choose a specific day toward the end of each month to review the last month and plan what you want to accomplish during the next.
If you want to become a strategic thinker, it will require planning. Choose a specific day toward the end of each month to review the last month and plan what you want to accomplish during the next.
2. Focus and Clarify
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Strategic thinking provides clarity and focus; strategic thinkers recognize things they should and should not be doing. So when opportunities come your way, think about asking why before asking how:
Strategic thinking provides clarity and focus; strategic thinkers recognize things they should and should not be doing. So when opportunities come your way, think about asking why before asking how:
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Why should I be involved with this particular opportunity?
Why should I be involved with this particular opportunity?
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Why is this the best use of my time?
Why is this the best use of my time?
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Why will this lead me closer or farther away from my goals?
Why will this lead me closer or farther away from my goals?
3. Ask Great Questions
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Strategic thinkers know the importance of great questions, which goes along with the second tip. The quality of your questions will determine the quality of your answers.
Strategic thinkers know the importance of great questions, which goes along with the second tip. The quality of your questions will determine the quality of your answers.
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Consider questions such as:
Consider questions such as:
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Why?
Why?
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Why not?
Why not?
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Why not now?
Why not now?
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Is there another way to accomplish this task?
Is there another way to accomplish this task?
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Is this really the best way forward?
Is this really the best way forward?
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Why do we have this situation?
Why do we have this situation?
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What creative ideas and innovation could I deliver to this situation?
What creative ideas and innovation could I deliver to this situation?
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Is there anything else I am not aware of that might influence the way forward?
Is there anything else I am not aware of that might influence the way forward?
4. Grow Your Inner Circle
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Another great way to grow as a strategic thinker is to spend time with other strategic thinkers and see how they navigate different situations and plan their day in advance.
Another great way to grow as a strategic thinker is to spend time with other strategic thinkers and see how they navigate different situations and plan their day in advance.
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In my monthly Connect & Grow training calls , I use strategic thinking in the lessons I provide to help others with their business and personal development. They are all recorded and sent to those who are part of the Connect & Grow group.
In my monthly Connect & Grow training calls, I use strategic thinking in the lessons I provide to help others with their business and personal development. They are all recorded and sent to those who are part of the Connect & Grow group.
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What else can you do today to focus on developing yourself as a strategic thinker? Let me know—I would love to hear from you.
What else can you do today to focus on developing yourself as a strategic thinker? Let me know—I would love to hear from you.