Co-authored with Margaret Wilson
Leaders often know they need to “be more strategic" and request the same of their team. But what they neglect to offer is concrete guidance on how to develop strategic thinking.
As a result, their people are left wondering: Is there a book I can read? Will I become more strategic through osmosis? Does my boss even know what it means?
Strategic thinking skills need to be a targeted area of development for any organization dealing with uncertainty, complexity, growth challenges or change — and that's most organizations.
People who think critically, logically and creatively are invaluable at times like these because they know how to find opportunities, solve problems and set direction.
While that should be a compelling enough argument on its own, leaders are up against plenty of resistance. Technological advances, the 24/7 news cycle, information access and on-demand everything are contributing to what some are calling “present-ism.”
To counter this and foster a long-view perspective, try these six practices:
#1. Ask Better Questions
Questions are the language of strategy. Are you asking the right ones? If you already know the answer to the question you’re asking, you may not be thinking big enough. Ask probing questions to delve deeper into issues and gain a more comprehensive view.
#2. Get Curious
Curiosity asks, “What don’t I know?” Judgment believes, “I already know.” So, authentic curiosity — the true desire to seek and explore — is at the heart of finding the right questions. Embracing curiosity nurtures a growth mindset and builds your and your team's ability to learn and adapt to new knowledge.
#3 Think Creatively
Creative thinking isn’t just for writers and artists. Three science-backed ways to boost creativity: Brainstorm and go for quantity over quality; use play or improvisation; amp up alone time, making space to sit in silence free of distractions.
#4 Think Critically
Critical thinking questions assumptions, considers multiple perspectives and uses evidence and reasoning to arrive at conclusions. Practice active listening, engage in constructive debate and reflect on your past decisions with an objective eye to develop a strategic mindset.
#5. Seek Diversity
Diversity feeds a strategic mindset, whether its diversity of perspectives, culture, experiences or ideas. Exposure to broader viewpoints shines a light on the inherent biases and blind spots that impair our objectivity, leading to better informed strategies.
#6. Let Your Thoughts Fly Free
Prioritizing and sequencing our thoughts is a requirement of strategic thinking, and a product of it. As author E.M. Forster famously said, “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” Speaking thoughts out loud is a technology for thinking.
Developing a strategic mindset doesn’t guarantee you’ll always have the answers, but it will empower you and your team to address challenges before they become crises, identify new opportunities and plan for the future more effectively.
You might not always know what to think, but building these skills will help you know how to think.
