Being a great thinker is one of the underrated skills for a leader in this day and time. It is more important for aspiring leaders and pace setters, as it proves to your superior that you are well able to make and take your own decisions. Strategic thinking takes it a pace higher, as it entails you being able to think beyond a vacuum. You do not merely isolate events, but see the big picture and are able to take into consideration different variables before you make a decision.
Developing and demonstrating strategic thinking takes time. You develop strategic thinking by exposing yourself to broad information and all that is required is that you are curious enough to want to know. You also must ensure that you are placed within circles and environments that compel you to practice strategic thinking. Be a part of job rotations and projects that are outside of your comfort zone.
To demonstrate strategic thinking, you will have to put yourself out there and be the go-to-person whenever a change is required to be made, or be at the fore front of the change itself. This will require research, being proactive, bold and an excellent communicator, so as to cut across different sectors and remain relevant.
The truth is that no matter how much you know and have grown, there is always going to be someone watching from the top. Your leaders and superiors want to know how you think and if you can handle their shoes well enough before they hand it over to you. You have to learn to own your thoughts and embody them, as this is the only way to make decisions without feeling anxious about it. What is your own point of view? Where do you stand in the face of controversial issues? What do you think is the way forward? Strategic thinking begins with having a thought itself. A thought that is as a result of the compendium of research, study and experience all within time.
As you become more confident about your thoughts, the next step is to develop as much confidence in sharing them. You put your knowledge to good use when you take out time to prepare for meetings and practice sharing your knowledge. You can take out 15 to 30 minutes before each meeting to gather and collect your thoughts, then rehearse how to communicate, such that all of your thoughts are being heard. Otherwise, you will always seem unprepared and incompetent.
If you consistently do your due diligence and know how to share your thoughts articulately, with time, you will begin to get noticed. As long as you are a thorough and well informed speaker, your contribution will solve the company’s problems and begin to pay off. Your leaders will begin to see the impact of your sharing, and move your contributions to executive meetings where they will be properly utilized and developed.
Confidence is built before sharing your thoughts, but more confidence is gotten when your thoughts are being held. You will become less of a reactor to an initiator. You will look forward to senior executive meetings as you will start to see yourself as an effective contributor to the growth and development of your organization. Soon, you will become consulted on crucial matters relating to hiring, financing, marketing and sales, depending on your proficiency and consistency.
The final part to being a strategic thinker is to demonstrate that you can follow due processes. You do not stop at ideation, you must prove that you can bring your ideas into fruition. Take on projects and be involved in improving a process or executing the project entirely. Apply your knowledge by bringing in the right people for the project and delegating responsibilities to them accordingly.
The journey to being seen as a strategic thinker is a long but rewarding process. Overtime, you will become noticed and talked about positively, then positions will be handed to you to validate your growth.
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