What is strategic thinking and how do we process strategic thinking? These are questions that many people ask.
Here is how to define strategic thinking.
Process Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking is about looking at the end goal and then going back and planning how you are going to get there in the shortest time possible. Think of a great chess players. They will focus on the end goal and then try and work his way backwards so that he can win his game.
To process strategic thinking helps one to plan, become more efficient, maximize one’s strengths and find the most direct pathway to achieving any objective.
The benefits of practising strategic thinking are huge in the long run.
A big part of being a strategic thinker means challenging the normal way to do things.
Don’t be afraid to question why things are done a certain way or how they could be done differently, and dig deeper if you feel like something is unclear or ambiguous. When you do that, you’ll find it a lot easier to come up with different approaches for solving any problems that come up.
For instance, if you notice your office filling system is a mess, think about different ways to organize paper work to make it more streamlined, or if you are planning on starting your own business from home, ask yourself things like, what could go wrong, and what types of problems should I prepare for.
Why Is It So Important To Process Strategic Thinking Strategies?
There are a lot of reasons you might want to become a more strategic thinker. For instance, you might want to improve your business savvy or even have more focus and direction in your personal life.
Regardless, improving your strategic thinking strategy involves thinking about the big picture around you. When you can think strategically, you’re able to visualize a variety of different outcomes, thus making it easier to plan for the future.
Strategic thinking aims to simplify the difficult.
Strategic thinking takes care of complex issues and long-term objectives, which can be very difficult to address and the process breaks them down into manageable chunks.
Some say that to process strategic thinking in your mind is really nothing more than planning ahead on steroids.
By practising strategic thinking, you are prompted to ask the right questions so that you can break down difficult tasks.
Good strategic thinkers are precise in their thinking and they match the strategy specifically with the problem. They realise that the problem isn’t a one size fits all.
Having a strategic plan is like having a bridge that links where you are now to where you want to be in the future. It gives you direction and credibility today and increases your potential for success tomorrow.
If you practice strategic thinking actively, others will listen to you and want to follow you.
How To Practice Strategic Thinking
Firstly, Be Clear About What You Want
Before you start, ask yourself if you are clear about the outcome and if you know what you want the outcome to be.
Do you know a little something about what it will take to get there?
Think of the big picture and what it will feel like to get there.
Give your goal some thought and write down questions and difficulties that you may face on the way to reaching your final destination. It is a good idea to visualize problems that could crop up and then have a plan on how to solve them.
Secondly, Create A Plan
Creating a “plan” means identifying your action items, both short-term and long-term, that will help you reach your main goal.
It could be as complex or simple as you like. A complex plan would normally be used in a large company, whereas a smaller plan could be a project plan or a checklist of things to get done.
The plan is about taking the necessary steps and putting them into a course of action. For more on how to achieve goals click here.
Thirdly, Try Making A Drawing
Try to think about words and make them into a diagram. This is called mind mapping or brainstorming.
Drawing pictures, graphs and charts is a form of thinking that stimulates the creative side of your brain and this form of thinking can take you out of the box.
When you are ready to start to process strategic thinking, make sure you have time and you won’t be interrupted. Give yourself time to daydream about the future you are trying to create and then from there implement one or two of these approaches to your strategic thoughts.
Now don’t forget to watch for that breakthrough. You may only be a couple of hours away from a successful plan of action.
For more ideas on setting up your mind for creative thinking, click here.
