Identifying the Signs of Strategic Thinking in Team Members at Work

Strategic thinking requires focusing on the numerous variables involved in achieving the long-term success of a plan, team, or business. Utilizing strategic thinking well can be the difference between success and failure.

Recognizing signs of strategic thinking in team members and leaders can help usher in promising business growth. Strategic thinkers showcase the ability to look at the big picture and adjust based on feedback. They also have the confidence to ask questions and try new tactics.

Let us delve deeper into the topic. If you would like a baseline first, we encourage you to explore Defining and Understanding Strategic Thinking at Work.

Signs of a Strategic Thinker

Here are signs of strategic thinking to watch for within your team.

Setting Goals

Strategic thinkers are eager to learn and grow, which is why they are often goal-setters. They understand how to identify which goals will have the greatest impact and the means to achieve those goals. They break down larger targets into achievable tasks for themselves and their team. They also understand that achieving goals takes time, they do not expect instant results, but they do know how to determine realistic timelines for achieving success.

Processes Improvement

Focused on the efficiencies, strategic thinkers continually look for ways to improve productivity for themselves and the organization. They identify ways to reduce redundancies, streamline repeated actions, and increase efficiencies. By analyzing workflows and pinpointing bottlenecks, they look for ways to reduce constraints and ensure resources are allocated more effectively. Their commitment to continuous improvement positions the organization to operate with fewer wasted resources and greater ease.

Adaptive

Strategic thinkers have a clear vision of success but remain flexible enough to adjust their approach when circumstances demand it. They proactively adapt to unforeseen obstacles, reassessing and refining their plans to stay aligned with their ultimate goals. This adaptability may involve altering the methods used to achieve the objective, revising timelines to ensure feasibility, or even recognizing when a goal is no longer worth pursuing. Their ability to pivot ensures resilience and long-term success.

Forecasting Scenarios

A key sign of a strategic thinker is that they continuously evaluate the most likely scenarios and plan responses to keep their strategic efforts on track. They anticipate potential obstacles that could derail their success, and prepare for unforeseen challenges with a level-headed approach. While they maintain a sense of reasonable optimism and avoid obsessing over worst-case scenarios, they ensure they are equipped to adapt when things go sideways, balancing preparation with forward-thinking resilience.

Creative Thinking

Strategic thinkers actively generate and explore new possibilities that go beyond what currently exists. They brainstorm, experiment, and challenge conventional thinking with curiosity and openness. Rather than simply thinking outside the box, they question why a box is considered the solution in the first place. They value creativity for its own sake, understanding that even rejected ideas can spark unexpected insights. For them, exploration is essential, as it often leads to novel and impactful breakthroughs.

Innovation

The most successful strategic thinkers excel at transforming creative ideas into practical, valuable applications. They take what’s generated during ideation sessions and convert the most relevant possibilities into actionable solutions that create real value to users or organizations. Through their innovative approach, they drive tangible change, enable improvement, and create meaningful disruption within their industry.

Introspection

Strategic thinkers are not afraid to engage in deep self-reflection when faced with setbacks. Instead of dwelling in frustration or assigning blame to others, they critically examine their own decisions, actions and assumptions that may have contributed to the outcome. This honest assessment allows them to identify areas for personal growth and refine their approach. By developing a growth mindset, they learn from their mistakes and build resilience.

Accepting Feedback

While confidence is a good trait, ego or arrogance is not. This is why strategic thinkers are always open to feedback. They value the precious insights that can come from an external perspective. Feedback provides a fresh lens, offering perspectives that the strategic thinker may not have considered due to their proximity to the issue. It challenges assumptions, uncovers overlooked opportunities, and ensures a more holistic approach to decision-making. Strategic thinkers appreciate being made aware of potential blind spots and incorporate constructive feedback to better themselves.

Asking Questions

Strategic thinkers must be confident enough to ask the right quantity and quality of questions to fully understand which strategic moves would have the greatest impact. They believe in the adage, “There are no stupid questions.” Asking the right questions coming from a place of curiosity, exploration, and a humble unassuming stance can lead to insightful information and solutions.

Decisive Action

After assessing a sufficient amount of the essential data, strategic thinkers accept a level of reasonable confidence to make a decision. They do not waste precious time in a paralysis of over-analysis but are resolute about what needs to be done. They know the right time to move out of strategic assessment and move into strategic action. They commit to their strategic target and build momentum towards the goal as early as possible.

Managing Priorities

Strategic thinkers need to incorporate their strategic ideas while continuing to juggle the day-to-day operations. They prioritize strategic and operational tasks while ensuring that progress happens on both simultaneously. This requires clear goal setting, careful delegation, and the ability to differentiate between urgent and important tasks. By staying focused on the big picture while addressing immediate needs, they ensure that long-term objectives are not sacrificed for short-term demands.

Recommended: Examples of Strategic Thinking

Develop Strategic Thinking in Your Team

Great leaders recognize signs of strategic thinking and make an effort to build this competency in their people. With over 45 years of professional expertise, CMOE has championed leadership development in a range of skills across a variety of industries. Our training workshops, programs and digital courses provide the core skills to ensure success in the workplace.

Learn more about how to grow these skills through our Applied Strategic Thinking® Workshop.