By strategic thinking is understood as the ability to think in images of the future. A systems approach allows you to plan, predict, anticipate new opportunities and strive to apply interesting options.
The term strategy comes from the Greek strategia, which translates as skillful leadership. Simply put, strategic thinking is the ability to set a hypothetical goal, the solution of which will contribute to the realization of the main goal.
The thinking of a person with a strategic vision has flexibility and objectivity. A strategist easily moves into the future, makes plans, and identifies key points. The most important tool of strategic thinking is analysis.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN STRATEGIC THINKING AND ANALYTICAL THINKING
Strategic thinking is a logical extension of analytical thinking. A simple analysis does not entail subsequent actions, but its function is to process the information. Within large companies, this is done by ordinary employees. Its mission is to process the information and provide an operational summary. Based on these reports, the director makes strategic decisions and gives the order to apply the necessary innovations.
In turn, the manager must also have analytical thinking. This is necessary because thorough analysis of all initial and what-if data relevant to the business is important for decision making.
FOUNDATIONS OF STRATEGIC THINKING
Strategic thinking is applied not only in business but also in personal life. Anyone can learn to think like a strategist and solve their problems more effectively.
The basic principles of strategic thinking are:
- Find trends. The situation in the world is changing, and there are certain patterns in these changes. To keep up with the times, you have to identify trends and make decisions according to likely forecasts. In practice, this means the need to be aware of all the information, as well as to continually expand your horizons.
- Complex issues. The strategist needs to be honest with himself. You need to ask yourself all those questions that are so uncomfortable to answer by outsiders. Who am I, what do I want? Why do I want this? How do I see myself in a year? In 5 years? What is stopping me? What am I wasting my time on?
- Behavior. The style of the strategist is to move from the general to the particular. When processing and presenting information, you must adhere to a well-thought-out structure.
- Reflection time. Silence encourages clear thinking, which becomes a real necessity for strategic planning. Productive reflection and intrapersonal conflict resolution require maximum concentration. Those who do not consider the future tend to stay in the same place.
SKILLS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO STRATEGIC THINKING
Strategic thinking is a diverse skill set that is combined to help you anticipate future changes and make effective decisions.
Competences to develop strategic thinking:
- Attract different types of thinking. Strategic planning is effective if a person can change and explore information from different perspectives.
- Anticipation. The ability to anticipate the future based on baseline data and current trends is one of the main skills of a strategist.
- Setting objectives. The strategy must serve the most important objective.
- The flexibility of thought. A strategist is not someone who sets a goal and tries to achieve it at any cost. He is a man who reacts to changes at the right time and makes the right adjustments instantly.
- Sensitivity. A strategist has to absorb information like a sponge. It is important to use several sources, compare, analyze and draw conclusions.
- Continuous learning. It does not matter what is studied, but what is fundamental is a continuous process of brain training.
- Objectivity. A strategist must get rid of prejudices and conventions. Your task: perceive the information in its pure form and react to what is happening as an impartial spectator.
- I rest. Ongoing intellectual stress can lead to burnout. To maintain mental health and a clear mind, it is necessary to move from mental activity to physical activity. Getting in shape, going for a walk, playing outside, going on a hike … all this helps to recharge your energy and keep you motivated. Rest can also be passive: serious businessmen read fiction, enjoy uncomplicated computer games, sunbathe on the beach, etc.
Having strategic thinking is the ability that allows you to conceive the possible future of a company so that you currently carry out an analysis that helps you foresee opportunities to achieve the fundamental objectives. While in the process some skills are developed such as interest in different types of thinking, anticipation, goal setting, the flexibility of thought, sensitivity, continuous learning, objectivity, and the importance of disconnection. Also, this type of thinking springs from analytical thinking, which is also necessary for a manager. Strategic thinking is developed by looking for trends, asking complex questions as well, having behavior that helps to structure the information, as well as giving oneself spaces for reflection.
