The Art of Strategic Thinking: Beyond the Questions

Strategic thinking is often cited as an essential skill, especially for leaders and innovators. But what does it indeed mean to think strategically? It's about envisioning the future and understanding the here and now.

In a recent discussion on LinkedIn, the value and depth of strategic questioning were explored.

?? The Essence of Strategic Questions

As I shared on LinkedIn, strategic questions help guide significant decisions, set future goals, and determine priorities. They push us to think beyond the present moment and imagine the bigger picture. Contrarily, non-strategic questions might keep us grounded in the present without any foresight.

But as the insightful Darius Kemp pointed out, strategies often fail because they don't accurately account for the present state. Hence, it's crucial to bridge the gap between our current situation and where we want to be in the future, armed with a clear understanding of our present.

Balancing the Here-and-Now with the Future

To gain an accurate perspective of our present, consider asking questions like:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What are your most significant opportunities and threats?
• How are your customers evolving?
• What are your competitors excelling at?
• Where are you experiencing financial setbacks?

Once these questions are tackled, we can then shift our focus to future-oriented questions:

• What are your long-term aspirations?
• Where do you envision the company in the subsequent decades?
• How can you adapt to anticipated economic shifts in the coming years?

?? SMART-ify Your Questions

To enhance the quality of these strategic questions, adopt the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

For instance, rather than asking, "What are your biggest opportunities and threats?", rephrase it to: "What are the top three opportunities and threats that could impact your business in the next year?" This ensures precision and actionability.

?? Further Insights from Darius Kemp

?Darius further enriched the conversation with more pivotal questions:

• "What's your business model, and do you need to change it?"
• "How do you define and measure success?"
• "How does your organization handle decision-making and change?"

Indeed, as Darius aptly mentioned, it's astounding how some companies adopt strategies contrary to their business model, emphasizing the need for clarity in strategic thinking.

?? Join the Discussion

Your insights and experiences enrich the community. Join us on LinkedIn and be part of this ongoing conversation on strategic thinking. Let's learn, evolve, and innovate together.

?? Join the LinkedIn Conversation: https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7119345291111079937?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Wishing you clarity in your strategic pursuits,

Nick Bisconti, MBA

P.S. A big shoutout to Darius Kemp for the invaluable insights and to everyone who contributed to the discussion. Let's keep the conversation going!

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