- Strategic thinking is the ability think strategically about the present and future of your organization.
- Strategic thinkers are distinguished by their ability to analyze patterns, identify trends, see connections, envision future scenarios, and develop creative strategies for accomplishing the mission.
- Strategic thinkers are also agile, flexible, and creative in anticipating and responding to shifts and changes in the operating environment.
- Strategic thinkers are not strategic geniuses who enter the room with the right answers. The best strategic thinkers are able to engage others in creative thinking and collaborative strategy development.
- Strategic thinking informs strategic planning and strategy execution, but as the name implies, it is more of a mindset than a set of actions.
- Strategic thinking never ends!
- The Five Most Important Questions You Can Ask About Your Organization (CHS Insight)
- What’s Your Strategy for Doing Strategy? (Center for Creative Leadership)
- Strategic Thinking: 11 Critical Skills Needed (Center for Simplified Strategic Planning, Inc.)
- 4 Ways to Improve Your Strategic Thinking Skills (Harvard Business Review)
- Why Managers Need to Think Strategically (American Management Association)
- Develop Strategic Thinkers Throughout Your Organization (Harvard Business Review)
- 5 Ways to Help Get Employees to Think More Strategically (TLNT)
- Podcast: Josh Leibner and Gershon Mader on the Power of Strategic Commitment (American Management Association – 15:08)
- Video: Is Your Team Tactical or Strategic? (Strategic Thinking Institute – 6:29)
- Video: Leading Strategy Conversation (Strategic Thinking Institute – 7:12)