Here's how you can optimize your strategic decision-making by leveraging strengths and weaknesses.

Optimizing strategic decision-making involves leveraging strengths and addressing weaknesses. By capitalizing on unique capabilities like a strong brand, skilled workforce, or advanced technology, organizations can enhance their competitive edge. Simultaneously, identifying and addressing weaknesses—such as gaps in technology or inefficient processes—enables better resource allocation and risk mitigation. This balanced approach ensures that strategies are robust, adaptive, and aligned with long-term success.

One thing I've found helpful to optimize my strategic decision-making is by using the SWOTE analysis to conduct a proper self- assessment. The first step for example, by identifying the strengths, skills and the strengths of my team and also the assessing our weaknesses, as well the weaknesses of the business model we are currently using. The second step is by identifying and assessing the potential threads, trends and emerging opportunities. The third step is to execute or implement the ideias. Once, you identify the strengths, weaknesses, threads and trends, as a leader you need to execute the plan ruthlessly. Ideias without execution, are simply ideas; their are not enough.

Identify feedback sources – Determine colleagues, mentors, or supervisors who can provide valuable insights into your leadership style and performance. Request input – Approach your chosen feedback sources with a specific goal in mind, requesting their perspective on your strengths and areas for growth. Use professional assessments – Consider utilizing leadership assessments or 360-degree feedback tools to obtain a comprehensive understanding of your performance. Analyze feedback – Examine the feedback received, identifying common themes and areas where external insights align or differ from your self-assessment.

One of the most common questions that I ask successful leaders that state they are strategic thinkers is how much time do you spend each week strategically thinking? It is surprising that there is a lack of time dedicated to this area knowing how important it is to continue developing individual and team skills towards success. Build time into your calendar just as you do with other tasks and prioritize this time to focus on your strengths, opportunities, and progress. Allow yourself permission to review your strategies so that you can look for ways to innovate, create, and develop new pathways to become more effective. Remember, you can't call yourself a strategic thinker if you don't spend the time required to strategically think.

Establecer metas claras y alcanzables basadas en tus análisis y reflexiones. Esto ayuda a dirigir tus esfuerzos y a mantener el enfoque en lo que es realmente importante. Usar tus conocimientos previos para evaluar diferentes opciones y prever posibles resultados. Estar preparado para ajustar tu estrategia según sea necesario, basándote en nuevos datos y cambios en el entorno. Cada decisión, exitosa o no, es una oportunidad de aprendizaje. Utiliza estas experiencias para refinar tu proceso de toma de decisiones y mejorar continuamente.

How good are your decision-making skills? Not sure, well, you can’t improve what you don’t measure. To ensure your accuracy improves, reflect on your decisions and the results they brought. Could you have done something differently? Did you leverage your strengths purposefully, or have your weaknesses influenced the decision? Sometimes, we self-sabotage without knowing it or try to cover our flaws, which influences the decision. Even when we think a decision is strictly strategic, personality will always play an unconscious role; we’re human, after all.

This strategy I love the most because it is so intuitive. If you hire correctly and then appropriately onboard your team, then you should trust them to make critical decisions. I despise micromanagement. This ultimately fosters personal growth, team collaboration and accountability.

Optimizing strategic decision-making by leveraging strengths and weaknesses involves empowering your team. Begin by identifying each team member’s unique strengths and areas for improvement. Assign tasks that align with their strengths, fostering confidence and efficiency. Provide opportunities for development in their weaker areas through training and mentorship. In my experience as a leadership coach, empowering others is transformative. By trusting your team and encouraging them to take ownership, you create a culture of collaboration and accountability. This not only enhances decision-making processes but also drives innovation and boosts overall team performance. Empowered teams are more motivated and resilient.

What worked for me is to identify your areas of expertise and capitalize on them by taking on tasks that align with your abilities. Seek opportunities to develop your weaker areas through training, mentorship, or collaboration with others who have complementary skills. Regularly assess your progress and make adjustments to your approach as needed. Surround yourself with a diverse team that brings a range of perspectives and experiences to the table. Encourage open communication and challenge assumptions to ensure all viewpoints are considered.

Although I didn't always see it this way, I have come to believe the most effective way to optimize your strategic decision making is to build on your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses, rather than focussing too much on them at the expense of the areas where you can truly add value. Focussing on your strengths allows you to contribute in ways that can deliver material improvements in performance. It also provides an opportunity to draw in team members and advisors to help you address weaknesses, providing those individuals with an opportunity to showcase complementary strengths they possess.