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Thinking Strategically


To think strategically means to see and to be able to understand the bigger picture of where you need to go. Then you need to take action to achieve the associated goals. 

Strategic thinkers often ask themselves key questions like:
Where am I now?
Where do I want to be?
How will I get there? 

Strategic thinking is a powerful tool in leadership.  When applied it gives awareness and understanding needed for long-term success.

Strategic thinking is also a powerful tool to use in your personal life for creating the path you want to take and build the life you want to live. 

Strategic Thinking

  • Is not only about decision making. It’s about spending time thinking, listening, and observing.
  • It’s not about gut feelings alone. Strategic thinkers and leaders are methodical, driven by data to help them make informed decisions. They use observation of trends, asking the right questions and seeking context. 
  • It is not instant gratification of short-term gains. Strategic thinkers plan and execute a strategy for the future and what’s important for their customers, team, their lives, and businesses.

Strategic thinking benefits you personally and in business. Strategic thinking can be learned, honed, and strengthened.  The power of strategic thinking promotes openness to changes. Helping you to see problems as opportunities instead of doom. 

When you use strategic thinking in every area of your life and career, you reap the benefits of being a leader and successful.  Step outside traditional ways of thinking and problem solving. When you think strategically, you focus on developing and creating opportunities for yourself. 



How to Develop Strategic Thinking

Most people think of strategic thinking as a creative skill.  Anyone can develop the skill and practice strategic thinking. 

Learn to prioritize tasks. Decide which tasks can wait by asking yourself, “What is the one task I can do today that will have the best results?”

Improve your listening skills and keep an open mind. Be receptive to feedback and evaluate everything you hear.

Along the same lines, get better at your questioning skills. Question everything you see or are told. Don’t be cynical. Instead collect and weigh facts without dismissing ideas or traditions. 

Observe and seek out trends.  Routinely explore and integrate the internal trends happening around you in your day-to-day work. Pay attention to the issues that get raised over and over and the obstacles you and your colleagues face.

Add more structure to your written and verbal communications by grouping and logically ordering your main points. Keep things as brief as possible.

Strategic thinking is a skill that helps you plan and reach your goals. Strategic thinking can be applied to virtually any activity. It helps you think in an orderly way, to achieve long-term advantages.

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