Think And Act Like A Strategist
Brought to you by The Center for Management and Organizational Effectiveness
"Today, many of us face incredible
pressures to deliver immediate results, to do more with less, and to manage an
ever-increasing workload. The pace and urgency of daily demands can make
it difficult to look even one step ahead. Successful leaders are
different; they learn to look ahead and not just think about today, but also
tomorrow. Thinking and acting like a strategist is nothing more than the
capacity to anticipate, and the discipline to evaluate, prepare, and position
yourself for the future.
As humans, we have the capacity to
think broadly, if we choose. Being a strategist means
having the courage to think deliberately and deeply about what you want to
create and achieve. Strategic thinking is about creativity,
intuition and planning to help you reach your business and personal
goals. In essence, strategic people think and act before they are forced
to take up a reactive position. We must realize that everyone is the
leader of his or her own job, projects, assignments, and customers.
Effective leadership means being prepared for what happens in the future, as
well as being responsible for what happens today.
The problem we face in becoming more
strategic in our thinking and planning is our tendency to be addicted to “short
term” thinking and the routine activity trap. As a consequence, we
continue to do what we’ve always done, though changing conditions may make old
solutions irrelevant to today’s problems. We simply overlook options or
opportunities to see our situation from a strategic perspective.
There are plenty of legitimate
reasons to pay attention to the daily operational issues. We are
frequently rewarded for it and job security often depends upon it. But,
we must learn to look to the horizon and identify the signals that indicate coming
changes in our own area of responsibility that will lead to effective solutions
and impact tomorrow’s success. You have to shift gears and focus your
mind with discipline and skill so you satisfy both the tactical and strategic
demands of your job. When you develop the discipline to set aside the
urgencies of the day and concentrate on the horizon, you create enormous
advantages for yourself and the business.
Your contribution will increase if
you master the principles and skills of personal strategic thinking. You
will have to develop patience and balance operational issues as you give your
mind a chance to think, reflect, and contemplate. You will have to resist
constant pressure for instant results, quick fixes, and fast solutions to every
challenge or dilemma. In short, you will have to be courageous and bold
as you try to bring more balance and a strategic perspective into your life.
You can be more successful
strategist if you think ahead, determine what it will take to make a
difference, and make a greater contribution. When you adopt an innovative
and proactive mindset, you will be more prepared for the tough decisions,
realities, and opportunities that come your way."
No comments:
Post a Comment