Today, managers and individual contributors alike are redefining what it means to truly be successful. People are discovering that too much emphasis is placed on “the now” performing current roles and activities.
Many people in the workplace have realized that they are drowning under the weight of tactical activities and short-term operational demands. Ahead of the Curve will show you how to allocate some time and energy to think ahead, add value, and innovate for the future.
To be exceptional, we need to be effective at both strategy and execution. We need to be great today and prepared to be great tomorrow. This means that we have to carve out some time, learn to tame the “operational beast,” and get our strategic bearing.
Nearly all of the popular books, articles, and training that cover strategic thinking focus on the grand strategic planning that takes place at the senior level. There is no question that many organizations have a need for high-level corporate strategic planning. However, it is just as important to have everyone in the organization thinking strategically and applying these principles to their own world.
If organizations want to be proactive and forward thinking then its members at all levels will need to think about the future in entrepreneurial and innovative ways, especially in their individual areas of responsibility. The question is, how can team leaders, project managers, sales representatives, engineers, and others start thinking strategically? What skills are needed? How can organizations get their employees to be more innovative, look around corners, plan ahead, and bravely take on the future?
This book is for anyone who is looking for answers to these questions. It is for those who want to be on track, in control, and prepared for the future. Through real life experiences, illustrated examples, and straightforward activities and tools, Ahead of the Curve will enlighten readers and help them to think, plan, and act more strategically at the individual level and on the front lines of work.
If you are serious about your future and want to find ways to add value to your organization you have come to the right place. You will learn how to align your efforts with the strategic priorities of your organization, identify key strategic targets, and get moving ahead of the curve.
This book is not suggesting that you live your life solely in the future or that you take your eye off the ball. Rather, we are suggesting that strategy and forethought must co-exist with daily tactics and responsibilities. The future begins today. With strategic thinking skills, you can learn the art of the long view and live to fight another day.
