Your team is struggling to develop strategic thinking skills. How can you help them?

Strategic thinking is the ability to see the big picture, anticipate future scenarios, and plan ahead for challenges and opportunities. It is a vital skill for any team that wants to achieve long-term goals and innovate solutions. However, not everyone is naturally inclined to think strategically, and some team members may struggle to develop this skill. How can you help them?

1 Assess their strengths and gaps

The first step is to understand where your team members are in terms of their strategic thinking skills. You can use various tools and methods to assess their strengths and gaps, such as feedback surveys, self-reflection exercises, or performance reviews. The aim is to identify what aspects of strategic thinking they are good at, and what areas they need to improve on. For example, some team members may be good at generating ideas, but not at prioritizing or implementing them. Others may be good at analyzing data, but not at communicating or collaborating.

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Thomas Leder

Strategy Sherpa, Management Process Advisor with HLP Leder Schreiber Hochstrahs
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Man lernt nicht Schwimmen, indem man darüber nachdenkt, was man über Schwimmen weiß. Das macht auch keinen Spaß. Das Team sollte sich sofort auf die strategische Fragestellung ausrichten und üben, eine Strategee für das Geschäft zu skizzieren. Dabei kann eine Liste mit Fragen helfen: Wer sind unsere wertvollsten Kunden heute und morgen? Auf welche Produkte kommt es an? Welches sind die Wettbewerbsvorteile in unseren Fähigkeiten? Das Team wir merken, dass es schon strategisch denken kann und durch üben immer besser wird.

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2 Provide training and coaching

The second step is to provide your team members with the appropriate training and coaching to enhance their strategic thinking skills. You can design or select learning programs that cover the essential concepts and techniques of strategic thinking, such as vision, mission, goals, SWOT analysis, scenario planning, or decision making. You can also offer individual or group coaching sessions to guide your team members through specific challenges or projects, and help them apply their learning to real situations.

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Lilina Aristeguieta

Organización de empresas - Organização empresarial | Calidad - Qualidade ISO 9001 | Productividad - Produtividade | Liderazgo - Liderança | Transformación de empresas en negocios sostenibles | Remoto | Híbrido
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Para ayudar al equipo con dificultades de pensamiento estratégico, pueden resultar muy efectivas las sesiones personalizadas de enseñanza siguiendo los pasos: 1. Yo hago, tu observas. 2. Yo hago, tu haces. 3. Tu haces, yo guio. 4. Tu haces, yo observo.

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Thomas Leder

Strategy Sherpa, Management Process Advisor with HLP Leder Schreiber Hochstrahs
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Mit der realen Situation beginnen, eine echte, detaillierte, relevante SWOT ohne BS erarbeiten und diskutieren. Spezifisch sein - welche Geschäftschancen genau ergeben sich aus der Dynamik von Markt und Technologie? Welche Gefahren drohen dem Geschäft in den nächsten 3 Jahren? Auf welche Stärken können wir bauen um Wettbewerbsvorteile zu schaffen?

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3 Create a supportive environment

The third step is to create a supportive environment that encourages and rewards strategic thinking. You can do this by setting clear expectations and goals for your team, and aligning them with the organization's vision and strategy. You can also foster a culture of curiosity, innovation, and feedback, where your team members are free to ask questions, explore possibilities, and share their insights and opinions. Moreover, you can recognize and celebrate their achievements and contributions, and provide them with constructive and timely feedback.

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Aryan P.

SCRUM MASTER
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Firstly, I would provide training sessions or workshops focused on strategic thinking methodologies, such as SWOT analysis, scenario planning, and critical thinking exercises. Encouraging team members to read relevant literature and case studies can also broaden their understanding. Additionally, I would foster an environment where strategic thinking is actively encouraged and rewarded, perhaps by incorporating it into performance evaluations or recognizing individuals who demonstrate strong strategic acumen. Furthermore, I would encourage collaborative problem-solving sessions where team members can share ideas and perspectives, helping to develop their strategic thinking skills through dialogue and debate.

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Thomas Leder

Strategy Sherpa, Management Process Advisor with HLP Leder Schreiber Hochstrahs
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Ein geschützter Raum für offenes Nachdenken ist notwendig Und: Jemand, der die Vorschläge wirklich hören will. Das motiviert! Unterstützendes Umfeld entsteht, wenn das Team eine echte Möglichkeit für Impact bekommt.

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4 Challenge and empower them

The fourth step is to challenge and empower your team members to think strategically. You can do this by assigning them meaningful and complex tasks or projects that require them to use their strategic thinking skills. You can also encourage them to take ownership and responsibility for their work, and give them the autonomy and resources they need to succeed. Furthermore, you can expose them to different perspectives and experiences, such as cross-functional collaboration, external partnerships, or industry trends.

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5 Model and mentor them

The fifth step is to model and mentor your team members to think strategically. You can do this by demonstrating your own strategic thinking skills, and sharing your thought process and rationale with them. You can also invite them to observe or participate in strategic meetings or discussions, and explain how decisions are made and actions are taken. Additionally, you can mentor them by providing them with advice, guidance, and feedback, and helping them overcome obstacles and learn from mistakes.

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Thomas Leder

Strategy Sherpa, Management Process Advisor with HLP Leder Schreiber Hochstrahs
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Die Diskussion unterstützen! Fakten und Erklärungen (Hypothesen) sorgfältig unterscheiden! Als denk-Coach und weniger als Methoden-Master arbeiten. Dem Team zu Erfolg seiner Vorschläge verhelfen.

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6 Review and reflect with them

The sixth step is to review and reflect with your team members on their strategic thinking skills. You can do this by conducting regular reviews and evaluations of their work, and measuring their progress and impact. You can also facilitate reflection sessions, where your team members can discuss their challenges and successes, and identify their key learnings and areas for improvement. Moreover, you can solicit and provide feedback, and acknowledge and celebrate their growth and development.

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Thomas Leder

Strategy Sherpa, Management Process Advisor with HLP Leder Schreiber Hochstrahs
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Die Denkfähigkeiten überprüft man, indem die Strategie immer weiter verbessert wird. Iterieren und verbessern! Auf Lösungen hinarbeiten, die noch nicht da sind. Nach Irrtümern suchen, sie als Trittstein für neue Erkenntnis nutzen.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Shehan Dabarera

Credit Risk Analyst | Financial Analyst| Ex Senior Relationship Manager - Wholesale Banking
(edited)
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Developing strategic thinking is not always achieved in a classroom setting. In many executive platforms, it is learned through: 1. Group / One-on-one interactions and 2. On-the-job experience. The major issue lies in organizations focusing on developing strategic thinking in senior management, while middle management and operational employees are often neglected due to the: 1. High cost of training and 2. The time constraints. This can be addressed by 1. Integrating senior managers into weekly meetings with middle management to share insights whilw 2. Ensuring operational staff are consistently informed throughout the day by middle management.

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Your team is struggling to develop strategic thinking skills. How can you help them?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Assess their strengths and gaps

2 Provide training and coaching

3 Create a supportive environment

4 Challenge and empower them

5 Model and mentor them

6 Review and reflect with them

7 Here’s what else to consider

Creative Problem Solving

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Your team is struggling to develop strategic thinking skills. How can you help them?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess their strengths and gaps

2 Provide training and coaching

3 Create a supportive environment

4 Challenge and empower them

5 Model and mentor them

6 Review and reflect with them

7 Here’s what else to consider

Creative Problem Solving

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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