In addition to asking strategic questions, you need to answer and address them skillfully. How should the organization respond to the threat presented by potentially disruptive competitors?.Where will the organization's growth come from in the next five years, and how does it compare with where growth has historically come from?.What’s the direction for growth for each of our products or services?.How can we strategically position ourselves to enter a new market?.Some examples of strategic questions you might ask include: It’s also important that your questions apply to your role and responsibilities so you can act on them. They might, for instance, relate to launching a new business or product, beating a competitor, or structuring your organization for innovation. Doing so allows you to exercise your planning skills, become adept at spotting opportunities, and develop a more strategic mindset you can leverage throughout your career.Īccording to the Harvard Business School Online course Disruptive Strategy, strategic questions can relate to a challenge, opportunity, or ambiguity you face in your current situation, whether personal or professional. If you want to improve your strategic thinking skills, one of the simplest things you can do is ask more strategic questions. How to Improve Your Strategic Thinking Skills 1. Once data has been analyzed, the problem is understood, and a solution has been identified, you need strong planning and management skills to bring everything together. Planning and management skills: Strategy isn’t just about thinking of a solution-it involves implementation, too.From there, you can craft a strategy that solves it. Implementing a strategy that addresses the central challenge you face requires you to first understand the problem and its potential solutions. Problem-solving skills: Strategic planning is often used to solve problems or address challenges, such as missed financial targets, inefficient workflows, or an emerging competitor.The ability to communicate complex ideas, collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, build consensus, and ensure everyone is aligned and working toward shared goals are all central to strategic thinking. Communication skills: Putting a strategy into place for your company, regardless of its size, requires solid communication skills. This initial analysis is crucial to creating a strategy that aligns with the current reality facing your organization. Analytical skills: To ideate a strategy that helps your organization reach its objectives, you must be capable of analyzing a variety of inputs-from financial statements and KPIs, to market conditions, emerging business trends, and internal resource allocation.These skills are essential to accomplish business objectives, overcome obstacles, and address challenges-particularly if they’re projected to take weeks, months, or even years to achieve. Strategic thinking skills are any skills that enable you to use critical thinking to solve complex problems and plan for the future. Here are four ways to improve your strategy skills, so the next time you’re involved in a strategic planning meeting, you can ensure your contributions are noticed.įree E-Book: How to Formulate a Successful Business StrategyĪccess your free e-book today. If you want to improve your strategic thinking skills, the good news is that, with the right mindset and practice, you can. Why? Because employees capable of thinking critically, logically, and strategically can have a tremendous impact on a business’s trajectory. Strategic thinking skills are among the most highly sought-after management competencies. You were likely presented with a challenge to solve or goal to achieve.ĭo you remember your contributions during that meeting? Did you offer compelling ideas and plot a course of action, or find it difficult to think strategically and develop a solution? Did you have a good idea, but struggle to communicate it in a logical way? Were you an active participant in the conversation, or did others helm it? Think back to the last time you participated in a strategic planning meeting for your organization.
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