What do you do if your strategic thinking abilities as an entrepreneur need development?

One of the greatest ways to assess, identify and improve your strategic thinking abilities is to listen intently in conversations and ask Q's of the speaker. One time a rural doctor was lamenting to me about the slow uptake at his new "shared imaging clinic." The clinic just wasn't being used at the rate he expected, nor was sustainable. I was listening super-intently and it suddenly hit me, but I had to ask him: "Do you think you need to change the paradigm of imaging use amongst your colleagues first BEFORE they're ready to incorporate the imaging clinic?" He paused, rejected and said "Yup, that's it! That is what is missing..."

Surrounding yourself with support in areas you are deficient is a great way to free yourself to focus on areas of strength. Of course you’ll need to be self aware enough to make that distinction.

I visualise strategic thinking as the school rock, gravel, sand experiment. Rock is strategic direction, the flag on the hill, and good for at least 2/3 years. Shorter and its tactical. For me this comes from the LT, even board, its a conversation in distilling the business goal down to its core, 9 times out of 10 directional. Gravel is the individual strategies necessary to achieve that strategic goal. Subject areas likely include Sales, Finance, Production, Systems, Marketing, Customer/Client, Proposition et al. In my experience the best way to develop capabilities in this is immerse myself in the competitive landscape, identify gaps, excellence. Its context. Sand is the actions that bring it all to life and for subject experts.

Strategic thinking is about asking the right questions from the customers’ perspective. If your strategic thinking abilities as an entrepreneur need development, focus on these key questions: ? Understand Your Industry: Analyze your landscape, competition, trends, and partnerships to differentiate your offering. ? Business Models: Map out how your company delivers sustainable value and assess how all components fit together. ? Develop a Roadmap and Growth Strategy: Chart improvements, expansion plans, partnerships, operations, and funding to scale. Or pick up my book “On Becoming an Entrepreneur” and complete the worksheets to practice what questions you should ask from ideation to launch a pilot of a venture ??

An example of this is taking on Board opportunities and collaborating with other executive leaders. Joining a nonprofit Board, for example, has allowed me to contribute meaningfully in the community while learning from a brilliant team.

Strategic thinking is a vital skill, yet it's not everyone's forte – and that's perfectly okay. Cultivate it where you can, but also know when to draw on the brilliance of others. Build a team that complements your abilities, allowing you to focus on your strengths. Stay curious, be a keen listener, and foster connections. Remember, it's not a weakness to ask for help. When people believe in your vision, they are often more than willing to support you. Embrace collaboration, and you'll find that support can come in many forms and from many quarters.

Create "what if" scenarios and practice solving for them. Include what are the potential outcomes and risks. By doing this exercise you can train your mind to look at the different angles of a problem and come up with solutions that have the best outcome in a low stress environment. Should the scenario actually occur, you already have an outline of what a potential solution can be.

En mi experiencia lo que me ha funcionado es la revisión de proyectos como base de conocimiento, es decir que hicimos y que deberíamos haber hecho en un escenario hipotético, modificando los objetivos que se buscaban a partir del proyecto de esa forma se revisan los indicadores y los resultados que se deberían obtener a partir de los cambios propuestos

It’s impossible to think strategically if you have no vision for your company. Start with the end and work backwards to create your strategy to achieve that end.

In my experience, when seeking to enhance strategic thinking as an entrepreneur, I've found it helpful to actively seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, and industry experts. Embracing constructive criticism can provide valuable insights and perspectives to refine your approach and to help propel your business forward.

360-degree reviews have been a powerful tool for me to hone my strategic thinking and broader leadership competencies. In my very first 360, I learned that my abilities to challenge the status quo, inspire others, and model the way were respected; however, I also learned that I wasn't doing a great job at engaging with others to enable and encourage their participation in the process. Getting a broad spectrum of feedback from those around you may offer insight into how you can more strategically drive growth for your teams.

During the isolation of COVID, I sought out advisors -- mentors, coaches, connectors, point experts, etc. -- and began to focus my development based on their actionable feedback; I was able to consider how their experiences related to my own and developed in specific areas. Similarly, I've sought out leadership programs and peer groups to learn from communities of leaders.

Having a mentor can make a significant difference; their knowledge and accomplishments can provide valuable insights and customized guidance to help you identify growth opportunities and refine your communication, self-awareness, and resource management skills. Mentors are excellent at pushing you beyond your limits and introducing you to innovative problem-solving techniques and strategic planning tools, all in a supportive environment where experimentation leads to actual learning. Additionally, mentorship provides an opportunity to improve your interpersonal skills, which are essential for attracting stakeholders, closing deals, and leading your team towards success.

In my own journey, working with a leadership development coach has been transformative. The personalized guidance and support I received helped me refine my strategic vision and align my actions with my core values. My coach also played a crucial role in helping me navigate challenges and seize new opportunities. This experience has accelerated my growth as a strategic thinker. If you're looking to enhance your strategic thinking abilities, investing in a coach can make a significant difference in achieving your goals and unlocking your full potential.

En muchas ocasiones tenemos creencias que nos limitan a avanzar o intentar, por el miedo a fallar, al qué dirán, subvalorar nuestros talentos y habilidades o compararnos constantemente con los demás, todas estas situaciones requieren muchas veces ser cuestionadas y confrontadas, de manera que aprendamos a ver las cosas con más objetividad y positivismo, confirmar que el emprendimiento es un camino de retos y triunfos, pero sobretodo de aprendizaje, siendo lo más importante en todo este proceso darnos cuenta quién estamos siendo y en quién nos estamos convirtiendo.

Gerade als Führungsperson oder Unternehmer ist man oft auf sich alleine gestellt. Selbst entscheiden. Selbst die Richtung angeben. Sich selbst über Wasser halten. - Eine Aussensicht aus einem Netzwerk und/oder Coach hat mir pers?nlich schon oft den essenziellen Schritt weitergeholfen. Auch bei der Arbeit mit meinen Kunden sehe ich immer wieder: Neue Perspektiven bringen neue Leichtigkeit und mehr Freude in den Alltag.

This is a critical step for an entrepreneur. Having a learner's mentality will help stay up to date with latest trends and other industry insights. Embracing a learner's mentality can help embrace new ideas and perspective, which helps with creative problem solving when having to make a strategic decision.

It's always cheaper and easier to learn things in class than to learn my making critical business mistakes. The easiest way to develop new business acumen is to learn new skills from a well reputed business school. If one wants to play the game, one must learn the rules. I would suggest attending some of the fine online and mixed modal training options presented below: 1. Wharton School of Business (GMP or AFP Program) 2. Columbia Business School (AMP Program) 3. UC Berkely / Hass School of Business - (Technical Leadership Program and the COBE program). 4. Villanova University - (Six Sigma Program) Any of these universities will have some type of program that will fit your needs and your schedule. Now, sign up for that class!

From my experience, continuous learning is crucial for staying adaptable and innovative in a constantly evolving environment. In managing educational projects and developing youth skills, I've found that staying updated on industry trends and adopting new approaches not only enhances my strategic thinking but also opens doors to innovative growth opportunities. For example, participating in workshops and engaging with mentors has provided me with new perspectives that I might not have considered otherwise. Strategic thinking is truly a dynamic skill that evolves with our commitment to learning and adapting.

Strategic thinking requires constant focus and development. Even if your current knowledge and processes serve you well today, as your venture grows and your context changes, you'll need new ways to approach your strategy. Think about how to fuel your strategic thinking over time with questions around: Curiosity - what are the most important questions for us to ALWAYS ask ourselves? Customer - what do our customers tell us through their words and actions? Connections - where are the interdependencies in our system? How do they help us? How might they hurt us? Stretch - how might we think bigger and wider about our opportunities and our relationships? Focus - what do we choose to do? What do we choose not to do? What will guide decisions?

Seek another career. Seriously! Let's not rethink what an entrepreneur is. If not driven by passion, then one is job seeker. Nothing wrong with that. Be real. No matter what.

Súbete todavía más al helicóptero: mirada desde arriba, como si fueras un pájaro. Desde ahí mira a los lados, izquierda y derecha: ?quién puede ayudarte? Y no te quedes con lo evidente, profundiza.

A positive approach and outlook is always beneficial ...fear is a repellent and just feeds the wrong reactions. Proactive environments are more successful than reactive ones, for sure.

En cuanto al planteamiento de estrategias y propuestas considero indispensables ciertos elementos relativos a las tres grandes ?s ; Contribución / Modelo consultativo basado en la especialización específica de cada perfil participante. Toda opinión es relevante. Cooperación para una construcción de modelos / escenarios y estrategias. TEAM PLAY. COLLECTIVE SUCCESS. Coordinación y distribución eficiente de los recursos disponibles para la configuración de metodologías orientadas a resultados medibles y alcanzables.