Invite Diversity of Thought to think Strategically

The consequence of losing the “Why” is clear – employees who see no connection between process and purpose feel process is purposeless: They become disconnected, disinterested and disengaged; not a good recipe for commitment and certainly not for curiosity.

To reverse this, build into your leadership practice what I call the “Why for What” reflex; for every important project or body of work you engage in or delegate, explain why it is important and how it connects with the organization’s vision and strategy. Ask employees to make that connection as well so they see the process of doing related to the purpose of doing. Begin your meetings with an examination of critical projects and their importance and then discuss their status; start with strategy, then go to tactics and task.

Strategic Thinking done in a vacuum is nothing more than illusion. In order to fully vet any form of strategic idea, you have to include the affected constituents through a collaborative and iterative process. Don’t confuse this with brainstorming. This action also supports the rigor needed to teach your mind to look beyond the boundaries of the initial reaction and perceptions.

My experience shows that by involving others in the process, you benefit from diversity of thought and expedited due diligence through knowledge sharing. I fully understand that at times we don’t have the benefit of this extension of the “thinking process” yet, I would suggest you seek it when it is available.

Know your Preferred way of Thinking Strategically

Is it more convergent than divergent, more right brain than left brain? All are good but for different reasons, know those reasons, so you can adjust accordingly.

Thinking strategically has characteristics of divergent and right brain thinking – holistic, intuitive, non-linear. Implementing strategy is more convergent and left brain – logical, sequential, and detailed. The best "strategists" aspire to Whole Brain modeling.

You are capable of both, however, your preferred is your default; know it (what you know you can control, what you don’t know controls you) so you can function effectively when faced with a situation requiring a different mode of thinking.

Strategic thinking, innovation and technology

Strategic thinking and innovation are intertwined in the technology landscape. Strategic thinking involves analyzing the big picture, anticipating trends, and aligning resources to achieve long-term goals. When applied to technology, it guides decisions on product development, market positioning, and resource allocation. Innovation, on the other hand, is about creating novel solutions, disrupting existing norms, and pushing boundaries. Strategic thinkers recognize that innovation is essential for survival in a rapidly evolving tech world. They foster a culture of experimentation, encourage cross-functional collaboration, and invest in research and development. Ultimately, strategic thinking fuels innovation, driving technological progress and shaping our digital future.

Strategic thinking for the best designed tech to business solutions

Strategic thinking plays a crucial role in designing technology solutions for business challenges and opportunities. Here’s how you can leverage it:

1. Assess the Landscape:

   • Understand the business context, industry trends, and competitive landscape.
   • Identify pain points, inefficiencies, and emerging opportunities.

2. User-Centric Approach:

   • Apply empathy to understand user needs deeply.
   • Design solutions that address real-world problems and enhance user experiences.

3. Holistic View:

   • Consider the entire ecosystem: people, processes, data, and technology.
   • Avoid siloed thinking; connect dots across departments and functions.

4. Innovation and Creativity:

   • Encourage out-of-the-box thinking.
   • Explore novel technologies, frameworks, and approaches.

5. Risk Assessment:

   • Evaluate risks associated with technology choices.
   • Balance innovation with stability and security.

6. Iterate and Refine:

   • Design is iterative; embrace feedback loops.
   • Prototype, test, and refine solutions based on real-world usage.

Remember, strategic thinking aligns technology solutions with business goals, ensuring they drive value and competitive advantage.

In Conclusion

Curiosity, Diversity, and Thinking Styles are all components of strategy and acting on these allows us to become more effective strategic thinkers. As Michael Porter infers, every leader must be a strategic leader and develop the capacity of all to think and act strategically. If employees don’t know what the organization’s strategy is, the organization, in effect, has no strategy.

Thinking, leading, and communicating strategically are the fundamentals for creating a culture of alignment, engagement, diversity, and clarity. Thus, creating an environment where everyone knows why they are doing what they are doing and never lose sight of the vision or the corresponding strategies that create competitive advantage and organizational success. Additionally, all of this leads to innovation and idea generation, which underpin your organization's competitive advantage. We can all play a part in that process and need to remain cognizant of how critical our individual contributions are to the wider goal.

Think about the places you already use strategic thinking

• Vacation planning
• Family planning
• Home improvement
• Financial planning

Now ask yourself if you bring Strategic Thinking to work

• Project work
• Process work
• Networking
• Problem solving

If you can identify with any activity in the lists above, and there is a gap between what you do in or outside of the work environment, you have to consider the fact of already having the strategic thinking skill set. So, the challenge and conclusions are that you need to leverage the examples discussed at the beginning of this article into “everything” and every “moment” to ensure you are provoking the behavior of strategic thinking.

Written by Frank Ferrante and Phil Ventresca, MBA