Strategic thinking is an essential skill for managers in today's workplace. Improving strategic thinking skills will help you and your team improve performance and work efficiency. Use these 5 actionable tips to improve the way you approach problems and overcome obstacles.

1. 5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR
STRATEGIC THINKING SKILLS TODAY
Become a Better Leader by Becoming a Better Thinker

2. WHAT IS STRATEGIC THINKING?
Strategic thinking is a critical
and deliberate way of thinking
so as to purposefully shape
your future.

3. THE VALUE OF STRATEGIC THINKING
• Maintain competitiveness
• Continue progress & growth
• Eliminate complacency
• Proactive leadership
• Systematic thinking
• Improved problem-solving
• Better employee guidance
• Early detection of problems
• Long term business survival
• Proactive decision-making
• Better pattern recognition
• Better long-term vision

4. Applying Strategic Thinking Video

5. 5 EASY WAYS TO IMPROVE STRATEGIC
THINKING TODAY

6. 1. MAKE TIME FOR PROGRESS
• First, understand it is time well-spent. You are
investing in the lasting progress of the
organization.
• Prioritize tasks, and determine which can be
temporarily put on hold.
• Introspectively discover any anxiety that may
be holding you back personally.

7. 2. BE AWARE OF YOUR OWN BIASES
• What are my current circumstances?
• Is my perspective realistic?
• What other points did I not consider that I should have?
• What does my point of view imply?
An important part of being a rational critical thinker is being self-aware
enough to monitor and question your own thoughts. Critical thinkers are in
charge of your own mind.

8. 3. IMPROVE LISTENING SKILLS
• Have an open mind free of biases
• Be open to feedback from others
• Listen attentively with a desire to learn a new perspective
• Evaluate what was heard and identify the most valuable point(s) learned
A critical thinker accepts that their ideas may be flawed and therefore listens
to others intently to learn more from others’ perspectives.

9. 4. HONE QUESTIONING SKILLS
• Is the idea rational?
• Is the source credible? Was the information from a trusted expert, or was it
hearsay?
• What are the assumptions and
biases with each option?
• Identify proof that exists to
support the theory

10. 5. UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES
• What are the pros and cons of each?
• What does each imply?
• Which will help meet our goals best?
• Is there an option that will open long-term opportunities?
Every choice has consequences. After questioning different sources and
points of view, think through the repercussions of each option.

11. STRATEGIC THINKING – AN INVESTMENT IN
TOMORROW
Learning critical, strategic thinking skills is valuable for anyone.
Everyone has the potential to influence future progress. Investing in
training initiatives today will cultivate high-performance productivity
tomorrow.
Discover how CMOE can improve strategic thinking skills. Contact us
today to increase productivity, improve your bottom line, and create
effective teams and leaders.