The reason for using a strategic thinking process is to give mental 'room' to consider closely the direction a business might value to be a winner over the longer term. Using such a process is vital to deliver the organizational results and futures needed, which might otherwise have remained in the mind as vague hopes.
For any manager to transform a business vision into a successful business venture, they need to focus on developing their expertise in analytic thinking, coordinated group work, and problem solving.
And, perhaps most particularly, the ability of a leader, and perhaps, where possible a whole group of key people, to consider what the future holds, whilst assessing those obstacles|hurdles| and confrontations that might get in the way.
Strategic Thinking - An Overview
Where strategic thinking is used best, the opportunities for it's application is widest. As soon as the need for a future view is recognized, the possibilities are almost unlimited. Look, in almost every organization there is a benefit in clarifying the needs for the future. Getting a head around the possibilities then are pretty obvious.
The hallmark of strategic thinking is considering and defining the medium- to long-term business objectives and expectations for the future and then working backwards to the present situation as an analysis and decision-making tool for managers.
Whoever you are, whatever your activities, you dare not blindly plough on with no thought about the future. Every day, when you live only on the edge, eventually it will return to bite you. This kind of way of working is only unsustainable, not to mention worry that happens.
Strategic Thinking - Worth It?
The key point about strategic thinking is that it provides a solid and researched framework to guide towards planned outcomes that may be some way into the distance. Some of the major organizations in the world have strategic plans or some 50 years in advance. Now, that requires some thinking ahead!
A key point about doing this work is that it will position you much better than others in your market who have taken the shorter term view.
In fact, such strategic thinking work needs a bunch of people who are able to ignore current logic and short-term measures. In the future there will most likely be significantly different scenarios that could easily change the rules of the way we think right now. The best at this factor out as many of the issues likely to lead to failure. That way there are few surprises at all.
This kind of work can, of course, be like speculating on the future, with little clarity about exactly what conditions will be in place - yet it is a vital component of the work.
Strategic Thinking As Work In Progress
Planning and preparing in advance with a vision or purpose is difficult. It is so much easier to just act and take care of the immediate requirements without thinking or planning too much. And, to be frank, this is as good a recipe for disaster in anything but the very short-term that can be adopted.
When you're are focusing on the long-term as well as the short term, it must become the way everyone works within the team or the organization as a whole if possible. When the culture of the business is always asking "Is this appropriate for the future as well as today", then you will know that the culture is getting there.
This sort of measuring up actions in the day job in the light of where you are going over the years ahead, encourages a healthier future. This protects what you are your people aspire to achieve - a great way forward to a successful and sustainable future, which will benefit everyone. Where strategic thinking is in place, there is every hope that your successes now will continue on till the sun sets!
Strategic Thinking, In The End It's Your Future...
Typically, your new way of considering the future needs will support you as you weave through the intricacies that are the core of most businesses, large and small. The fun that you will have with your people in sharing the hopes and aspirations, as well as the fears and obstacles will build the rapport that you need for the challenges ahead.
Strategic thinking is not, absolutely, the fix, more, it is an opportunity to confidently review the future, although it is not possible to see how it will shape up definitely.
Yet again, for those who are strong enough to see beyond surviving just today, there's likely to be a rich future ahead! - 15246
For any manager to transform a business vision into a successful business venture, they need to focus on developing their expertise in analytic thinking, coordinated group work, and problem solving.
And, perhaps most particularly, the ability of a leader, and perhaps, where possible a whole group of key people, to consider what the future holds, whilst assessing those obstacles|hurdles| and confrontations that might get in the way.
Strategic Thinking - An Overview
Where strategic thinking is used best, the opportunities for it's application is widest. As soon as the need for a future view is recognized, the possibilities are almost unlimited. Look, in almost every organization there is a benefit in clarifying the needs for the future. Getting a head around the possibilities then are pretty obvious.
The hallmark of strategic thinking is considering and defining the medium- to long-term business objectives and expectations for the future and then working backwards to the present situation as an analysis and decision-making tool for managers.
Whoever you are, whatever your activities, you dare not blindly plough on with no thought about the future. Every day, when you live only on the edge, eventually it will return to bite you. This kind of way of working is only unsustainable, not to mention worry that happens.
Strategic Thinking - Worth It?
The key point about strategic thinking is that it provides a solid and researched framework to guide towards planned outcomes that may be some way into the distance. Some of the major organizations in the world have strategic plans or some 50 years in advance. Now, that requires some thinking ahead!
A key point about doing this work is that it will position you much better than others in your market who have taken the shorter term view.
In fact, such strategic thinking work needs a bunch of people who are able to ignore current logic and short-term measures. In the future there will most likely be significantly different scenarios that could easily change the rules of the way we think right now. The best at this factor out as many of the issues likely to lead to failure. That way there are few surprises at all.
This kind of work can, of course, be like speculating on the future, with little clarity about exactly what conditions will be in place - yet it is a vital component of the work.
Strategic Thinking As Work In Progress
Planning and preparing in advance with a vision or purpose is difficult. It is so much easier to just act and take care of the immediate requirements without thinking or planning too much. And, to be frank, this is as good a recipe for disaster in anything but the very short-term that can be adopted.
When you're are focusing on the long-term as well as the short term, it must become the way everyone works within the team or the organization as a whole if possible. When the culture of the business is always asking "Is this appropriate for the future as well as today", then you will know that the culture is getting there.
This sort of measuring up actions in the day job in the light of where you are going over the years ahead, encourages a healthier future. This protects what you are your people aspire to achieve - a great way forward to a successful and sustainable future, which will benefit everyone. Where strategic thinking is in place, there is every hope that your successes now will continue on till the sun sets!
Strategic Thinking, In The End It's Your Future...
Typically, your new way of considering the future needs will support you as you weave through the intricacies that are the core of most businesses, large and small. The fun that you will have with your people in sharing the hopes and aspirations, as well as the fears and obstacles will build the rapport that you need for the challenges ahead.
Strategic thinking is not, absolutely, the fix, more, it is an opportunity to confidently review the future, although it is not possible to see how it will shape up definitely.
Yet again, for those who are strong enough to see beyond surviving just today, there's likely to be a rich future ahead! - 15246
About the Author:
(c) 2008 Martin Haworth, a business coach and 25 year time served manager, is the author of Super Successful Manager!, a very simple, week-by-week performance improvement program for managers of ANY capability. Want a free sample lesson? It's waiting for you at http://www.SuperSuccessfulManager.com.
