For example, if you’re in management, once a week you might block out 2 hours where you think about the big-picture strategy for your department, like the direction you want to take your team and how to proactively prepare for any problems that might arise. Try not to get bogged down in details during your strategy time. If you need to, write down things you’ll need to figure out later so you can stay focused on your long-term plans. [2] X Research source
For instance, you might notice that when there’s bad weather in a certain part of the country, your company has issues with shipping. In that case, you might implement a back-up plan, like designated alternate shipping routes or using a secondary shipping company. If you’re playing a game like chess, you might notice that your opponent tends to favor a certain move when they feel threatened. Once you’re aware of that, you may be able to pre-empt that move—like by blocking a certain piece, for example. The best way to understand a market that you’re trying to enter and the people that are going to use your product is to actually start writing down clear statements of who is going to be using your product and how they should feel when they use it. Use your time and efforts to figure out who already is in this market space and why it is that they won’t be able to capture that you will. Look at three or four other players in the market that could potentially disrupt and take advantage of this opportunity in the next year or two and weigh in to see whether you need to enter the market today, wait a couple of years or maybe not enter it at all.
For instance, if you notice that your office filing system tends to get really messy, question whether there’s a different way you could organize the paperwork so it’s more streamlined. If you’re planning to start your own business, ask yourself questions like “How could this go wrong?” and “What kind of problems should I prepare for?”
For example, if you’re working as a project manager and you run into a problem, you might ask everyone from your boss to the boots-on-the-ground workers how they would solve it. Then, you’d evaluate all of those different perspectives to decide which suggestions have the most merit. Especially reach out to people who are regularly willing to challenge what you think, like someone who says, “Have you thought about it this way?” Those opposing viewpoints are crucial for strategic planning. [6] X Research source
For instance, in a business setting, you might stay informed about any advances in technology that could cause your services to become obsolete—then figure out how to incorporate those technological advances so you can use them to your advantage. It’s impossible to foresee every situation that could arise, either in your personal or professional life. However, if you’re generally prepared for different situations, it’s usually easier to adapt when something unexpected does happen.
If you do notice a problem, be the person who looks for a solution—not just the person who points out the issue. For example, if your team is regularly coming in behind deadline, you might strategize how to get through your workload more efficiently so it’s easier to stay on schedule.
For example, if your marketing strategy involves improving your social media presence, you might create an action plan that includes things like identifying your target audience, optimizing all of your pages, sticking to a regular posting schedule, and creating a consistent “voice” for your brand. Regularly monitor your progress to make sure the plan is still working for you. Also, be flexible when you’re updating your plans—that’s an important part of making sure your strategy stays relevant![11] X Research source Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean micro-managing every detail of how to meet those goals. In your personal life, you’ll need to be flexible as you see how things play out. In a professional setting, it’s important to give your team some leeway as long as they’re meeting their targets on time. [12] X Trustworthy Source Kansas University Center for Community Health and Development Community-based research center focused on supporting public health development and education Go to source
Give yourself time to make important decisions—patience is an important part of strategic thinking. [14] X Research source For instance, if you have a goal to pay off your credit cards in a year, and your dishwasher breaks down, you might decide it’s more strategic to wash your dishes by hand until you get your credit cards paid off, then save until you can afford to pay cash for a new dishwasher. If you’re running a company and your goal is to grow your client base, you might find that it’s a good investment to purchase new manufacturing equipment, especially if slow production times are affecting customer satisfaction.
For example, if you want your home to be neater, you might start by identifying the spot that tends to get messy the fastest. Then, create an organizational system for that area. Once that’s under control, move on to the next place that clutter tends to gather.
For example, when you’re developing a new product, you typically start by coming up with a creative solution to a problem your consumers are facing. However, you also have to be really logical about things like cost-effectiveness, customer acquisition costs, and manufacturing limitations. Don’t be afraid to take risks as you’re building out your strategy!
If you spent a lot of time developing a new product that didn’t sell well, for instance, you might realize that you need to put more effort into getting feedback early in the planning process. That way, you’ll only put resources into something that generates a lot of interest. Learning from your mistakes is an especially important part of becoming more strategic, because it helps you avoid those stumbling blocks in the future.
Video games that involve real-time strategy can actually help you learn to think more quickly on your feet, which can be an important part of adapting strategy in the real world. [19] X Research source In addition to a ton of other physical and mental benefits, playing sports can also help you boost your strategic thinking skills. [20] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
