What sets the most effective leaders and team members apart? It’s their ability to exercise strategic thinking- they see opportunities where others see obstacles, creative innovative pathways, and drive meaningful outcomes. Strategic thinking requires more than solving problems; it’s about expanding your perspective, thinking beyond daily tasks, and adopting a proactive, value-driven mindset. Whether you’re aiming to enhance team performance or achieve organizational goals, mastering this skill is your key to greater success.
Dive into actionable strategies for how you can exercise strategic thinking below.
How Do You Shift to Strategic Thinking?
You can shape your mindset to a more strategic one by employing these actions. As you practice each of these on a consistent basis, you begin to form new habits in your patterns to think strategically.
Define a Strategic Opportunity
To exercise strategic thinking, start by defining a clear strategic opportunity. This involves a specific area where you can see an opportunity to add value and identify what success looks like in concrete terms. Establish a clear agenda, understand your audience, and set specific objectives and criteria to guide your decisions. In practical terms, this means approaching each activity with a defined goal in mind.
For instance, ask yourself questions such as:
- “What new product could we offer to solve an emerging customer challenge?”
- “How can we streamline our supply chain to improve efficiency and reduce costs?”
- “What innovative ways could we enhance the customer experience to increase loyalty?”
- “What steps could we take to make to reduce downtime on the production line B?
By clearly identifying your opportunity, you can focus your efforts and make more deliberate, impactful decisions.
Recommended: Instilling & Inspiring a Strategic Thinking Mindset at Work
Gather Information and Data
Continually gathering data and relevant insight is key to developing a strategic mindset. Actively seek out relevant information from thought leaders, industry trends, and competitor actions, and reflect on its implications: Does it signal a shift in customer demand? Is it actionable or just noise? To gain a strategic advantage, verify the accuracy of your data, investigate thoroughly, and consult others with what to do about it if anything.
In your everyday work, ask questions like:
- “Do we have enough information to define the problem?”
- “Why was there a high rate of order cancellations during this time period? What was the cause?
- “What insights can employees provide about dissatisfied customers?”
This ongoing process helps ensure informed, analysis, decision-making and action.
Analyze Relevant Factors at Play
It’s important to analyze the factors that may impact your progress toward the goal. This involves identifying both obstacles and advantages, realistically assessing your strengths and weaknesses, and evaluating how well you are positioned to take advantage of an opportunity or mitigate an emerging challenge.
For instance, if your team’s current process is quickly becoming outdated, you might ask, “How could improving this process or the technology behind it benefit our progress toward our strategic target?” Practical analysis might include questions such as:
- “If we start this job today, can we have this upgrade tested and completed before our high demand season hits?
- “How does this improve or simplify the process to move more shipments per hour?
- “Our internal team has extensive experience in designing software and understands our processes, can they confirm if they have the capacity and expertise to support this endeavor?”
As you carefully consider the factors in your favor or against you, you will be better positioned for success with your strategic objectives.
Recommended: 10 Traits of Strategic Leaders
Anticipate Changes
To think strategically, it’s essential to anticipate changes by asking, “What if…?” This involves considering potential shifts in your operating environment, assessing risks realistically without over- or underestimating the probability of success, and strengthening your commitment to the chosen course of action.
Everyday strategy questions can help guide this process, such as:
- “If we ship by truck, we could get caught in a lengthy delay if drivers’ strike. What is our backup option”
- “If we start this job and tomorrow and our supplier costs go up, are there other supplies we can utilize?”
- “How do we minimize sunk costs if the client decides to not renew the contract due to funding issues?
By proactively identifying and preparing for possible disruptions, you can adapt more effectively and stay aligned with your strategic goals.
How to Train Your Brain to Think Strategically
You can train your brain to think more strategically through daily practice of strategic thought and prioritizing development. Just as you cannot visit the gym rarely and expect to be fit, you cannot occasionally think strategically and effectively shift into a strategic mindset. It requires the everyday habit of exercising strategic thought to truly become a strategic thinker. Following these methods is instrumental in improving your strategic thinking skills.
Practice
You need to find opportunities to practice strategic thinking. This could involve asking probing questions that are relevant in meetings, allocating resources differently, or applying a new concept or idea that is a bit outside your normal way of operating. Small steps make a big difference
The additional practice will encourage strategic thought and begin to feel more natural. You will also become more comfortable with the trial-and-error aspect of strategic thinking. With every implementation of strategic thinking, you will understand the factors at play when making decisions and discover how to maximize opportunities in the future.
Recommended: How Do You Train Employees to Think Strategically?
Self-Reflect
To be effective at training your brain in this new mindset, you must set aside time to self-reflect and refine your strategic thinking skills. You can ask yourself if your actions served the team strategically. If you tried something and failed, why did it fail? What are the lessons to be gained?
Learn from Others
Strategic thinking isn’t just about questioning your own assumptions—it’s also about inviting others to think strategically and learning from their insights. Encourage diverse perspectives in brainstorming sessions, not just to test and refine your ideas but to uncover fresh approaches and solutions you might not have considered. By fostering an environment where everyone feels empowered to think critically and contribute, you can create a culture of innovation and strategic problem-solving.
For example, at American Airlines, two mechanics challenged the norm of discarding $200 drill bits once they became dull. By thinking creatively and strategically, they used old parts to build a machine—nicknamed “Thumping Ralph”—that sharpened the bits, saving the company an estimated $300,000 annually. This demonstrates how inviting others to think how they can contribute strategically, regardless of their role, can drive improved business results and strengthen the organization as a whole.
Request Feedback
You cannot develop your strategic thinking skills without feedback. Invite and listen to feedback from your peers and leaders. Explain to them that you seeking to improve your strategic thinking performance and would appreciate constructive feedback and guidance.
Develop or Improve Your Strategic Thinking Skills with CMOE
Anyone can become a strategic thinker with proper guidance and practice. At CMOE, we’ve been helping leaders and team members apply strategic thinking to their unique workplaces for over 45 years.
Don’t wait to develop this critical skill—schedule a complimentary consultation today and take the first step toward transforming your mindset and becoming a stronger leader and team member.
Our Strategic Teaming workshop provides the tools, techniques, and confidence you need to think strategically and achieve measurable results.
