Wednesday, November 9, 2011

How to be a strategic thinker

The foundation for strategic thinking lies in the attitude you have toward your work and the people you supervise and it requires patience and an understanding of organizational dynamics. Here are a few ways that you can become a strategic thinker:
Pay attention and be ready for the unexpected. One of the potential traps of front-line and middle management is the tendency to become myopic. Learn as much as you can about the entire organization and external and internal conditions that serve as opportunities or threats. Sometimes, circumstances can change very quickly and you want to be the person who is ready to adapt to new conditions.
Determine how your team's efforts can add value to the organization. Try to look beyond the routine work of your team and determine how the needs and priorities of the organization are changing
Understand the top priorities and concerns of senior management. Timing is everything when it comes to having a positive impact on the way senior management views your team. Develop an analytic approach to your dealings with top management. Ask yourself what things are important to the organization, what perspectives senior managers have toward organizational priorities, and more specifically, your work team, and which of your priorities or goals have the best chance to be viewed positively at any given moment.

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