To perform various daily tasks, a person needs different types of thinking. Cognitive abilities help you achieve success in all aspects of life, but not all people are well-developed in these qualities. For example, success in business largely depends on strategic thinking. Sufficient analytical skills are required to enable the individual to see intermediate tasks as the main goal is achieved. This often requires a kind of synthesis of creative and analytical thinking. Fortunately, cognitive abilities can be developed at any age.
What is strategic thinking
In psychology, strategic thinking is the cognitive ability that allows you to complete complex tasks. The main aspect of this quality is a step-by-step vision of the path to achieving the goal. An individual needs to be aware of the consequences that arise if certain decisions are made. This type of mind is opposed to straightforward thinking, where a person always chooses the most obvious way to solve a problem. The development of this personal quality is important in entrepreneurship, creativity, science and other activities.
Strategy is a term that comes to us from the ancient Greek language. Initially, this word was associated only with military craft. To win any battle, a general combat strategy was required, combining several tactics. Later the term became more general, so today strategy refers to a way to achieve a goal. The most accessible example is the game of chess. To win, the player must gradually change the position of his pieces. However, a straightforward approach is ineffective, since sometimes it is necessary to make sacrifices and make non-standard decisions.
Strategic thinking is required not only in logic games and military craft. The difficulties of everyday life force people to show analytical skills. This quality is inextricably linked with intelligence, since step-by-step planning of activities is a complex cognitive process. Individuals who constantly develop their minds achieve success in work and other areas of life.
Planning or Analysis
Some scholars believe that making a plan is fundamentally different from strategic thinking. So, according to Friedrich Gratz, these are two separate, but interrelated and complementary concepts. If strategic perception extends to all aspects of life and shapes the personality type, then planning is an actual process.
Table of differences:
Thus, there is a type of perception of the world and a specific activity. At the same time, the effectiveness of planning depends on the degree of development of intelligence and personal qualities.
First example
So, my favorite example comes from my college days. I had a neighbor who had been studying computer engineering for two years, and after two years he came to the realization that he did not want to study in this field. He wanted to transfer, but was afraid that by changing directions he would fall behind. It was as if he was succumbing to the sunk cost fallacy, feeling as if all the effort he had already put into his studies would be pointless if he changed direction.
But it turned out that our university had a system for checking the status of academic degrees. In the system, you could essentially see how far you had progressed in your major and your degree, taking into account all the classes you had taken up to that point. But our university also had a “what-if degree check” system where you could pick any existing major and see how far you would be in it if you decided to transfer. And the funny thing is what happened when he passed the test for the direction he wanted to transfer to. In the end, it turned out that he was even a little ahead of himself in comparison with the current direction.
And changing direction, he even made a small leap forward. But everything worked out this way only because he had the opportunity to use what-if analysis: take data, ask a question about it, and get an accurate answer.
Types of cognitive activity
Thinking is a cognitive process that gives a person the ability to observe changes in the world around him and make complex conclusions. Psychologists know the main types of thought processes. In different situations, people can use multiple cognitive functions to solve problems.
Main types of thinking:
- Visually effective. The study of the properties of objects in the surrounding world is carried out using physical interaction. A person gains the necessary experience and draws conclusions.
- Figurative. An idea of the properties of objects and phenomena appears in consciousness, reflecting real experience. To re-learn properties, the individual no longer requires physical interaction.
- Verbal-logical. The emergence of spoken and written language is inextricably linked with the development of analytical abilities. Concepts about certain objects and phenomena arise in consciousness. Complex logical chains are formed.
- Abstract-theoretical. The main difference between humans and animals is the ability to analyze in isolation from direct observation and interaction. People imagine themselves in different situations every day and imagine what decisions they would make.
- Empirical. Over the course of their lives, people accumulate experience that sums up their understanding of the world around them. Experience helps to differentiate between theory and practice.
- Creative. This is the most complex type of cognitive activity, combining abstraction, subjective views and developed imaginative perception.
Successful planning depends to a large extent on a combination of abstract-theoretical, visual-effective and creative thinking. You can learn to think strategically by improving these types of mental activities.
How to plan a trip
Last minute travel packages tempt you with their cheapness, but you rarely manage to leave at the last moment. We often plan a vacation a couple of weeks before departure and invest in the maximum amount.
There are basic principles for strategic travel planning:
Research the places you want to visit. Find out the climate and flight options. Plan several countries and be flexible - choose the one that will provide optimal conditions for visiting on your vacation.
Book your tickets while they're cheap. Subscribe to newsletters on airline websites or search aggregators. Keep an eye out for discounts on places like TripMyDream.
Determine the cost of living in the city in advance and plan a budget for your trip. On the Numbeo website you can see prices for basic products and services in any city.
Choose an insurance policy, book a hotel and calculate the cost of your stay. Make sure you don't have to pay extra for breakfast and internet. Find out if taxes are included in the booking price. It is more convenient to select an area on booking sites such as BedandBreakfast or Booking, but it is better to write directly to the hotel or apartment owner. This way you will get real information about your booking and save money.
Bring cash and credit cards with you before you leave. Find out if your card is valid abroad. Take copies of documents with you and store them separately from the originals. Check with your operator for roaming conditions. Save or learn all important phone numbers - bank, embassy, family, police.
Processes occurring in the brain during planning
The formation of strategic thinking occurs at the level of development of the central nervous system. It is the complex structure of the brain that allows a person to use cognitive processes to survive and improve living conditions. The main department of this organ, responsible for intelligence, abstract perception and emotions, is the cerebral cortex. This is an area of mass accumulation of neurons connected by long and short processes. Cellular processes allow the transmission of signals and the formation of the thought process.
Neuroscientists have been studying the functioning of the brain for a long time and trying to connect their results with cognitive activity. Already available data makes it possible to determine which department of the organ is responsible for certain functions. For example, activity planning is associated with the functioning of the prefrontal cortex. The impulses arising in this area are reflected in our consciousness in the form of goals and intermediate tasks. Intelligence and creativity depend on associative connections in the brain. During the process of maturation, neurons must form new connections. The innate properties of the nervous system and the characteristics of upbringing play an important role in the development of mental activity.
How to plan a budget
There are different programs for managing finances, from Microsoft Excel to mobile applications.
But apps can help you if you know the best budgeting principles.
Determine how much you earn. Add up all income and determine the total amount.
Look at what you're spending your money on. Utility bills, education, food, entertainment, clothing, treatment - enter all expenses into any accounting program.
Add up all expenses and subtract from income. If the number turns out to be negative, you are living beyond your means; you need to determine which expenses to cut. Determine how much money you need for items such as food at home, paying bills, treatment, transportation.
If there is still a difference between income and expenses, divide the money into groups. Of this amount, set aside 10–20% for unexpected expenses, 30% for a savings account. The remaining money can be spent on clothes, restaurants and entertainment.
Set financial goals. They should be short and long term. Short-term – set aside a certain amount each month. Long-term – the opportunity to make a down payment for an apartment.
Stay within your budget and don't expect a windfall.
Set aside money for a week at once. Leave credit cards at home unless you need them. Carry a fixed amount of cash with you.
Consider the difference between luxury and necessity.
Key Aspects
Strategy is a complex set of creative, rational, subjective and objective views of the world. To solve problems, you need to apply a variety of tactics (tools) in the right order. Some scholars believe that strategic thinking represents an advanced level of logic and rational thinking. Other experts note that strategy requires non-standard approaches, so logical inclinations are not enough to achieve goals. As a compromise, this quality should involve different types of mental activity depending on the circumstances.
Key aspects:
- Target
Before using cognitive activity, a person must decide on the ultimate goal. This could be moving up the career ladder, getting a good grade on an exam, getting money, or any other desired outcome.
- Plan
A complex problem cannot be solved without step-by-step planning of activities. An individual analyzes his steps in advance and creates a system of actions that can lead him to his cherished goal.
- Adaptation
In life, things don't always go according to plan. At every step, obstacles may appear that make the original idea meaningless. In this regard, flexibility of thinking is important, allowing you to quickly choose more effective tactics in different situations.
- Creativity
A good strategy often involves using the least obvious intermediate solutions. Stereotypes must be discarded.
The fundamentals of strategic thinking are universal. If any aspect is underdeveloped, overall performance decreases.
Implementation of the strategy
How do you know if your strategy is right? You designed it with the best of intentions, taking into account all the facts you had at the time. But circumstances change and develop. Perhaps your strategy as well. Below is a three-step system you can use to measure your progress as you continue to move forward:
- First, define your assumptions. You can't know for sure if your strategy is working if you don't know what success looks like. Only when you identify and write down your assumptions in advance can you really understand how you're doing and know if it's time to change your approach.
- Second, regularly evaluate your progress. In business life, it is customary to make plans for the coming year or, better yet, a quarter. It is important to determine in advance when and how you are going to track your progress in a frequently changing environment.
- Third, document your processes. You don't just strategize for the sake of strategy. You engage in strategic thinking because you want to make smart decisions and get better at it. This means you should have a record for future comparisons so you know what you did right and what you did wrong.
Remember, it's important to review your strategy regularly, set benchmarks ahead of time, such as every quarter, and check how things are going and whether the results are in line with your expectations. Or might some changes be needed? However, the general rule is that if you have taken the time to create a thoughtful strategy, you should stick with it unless there is a clear and pressing reason not to.
For example, you expected that 200 people would subscribe to your program, but only 15 signed up. You shouldn’t immediately get upset and close the project. It is important not to rush to conclusions, but to first look at the tactics you are using. For example, maybe the marketing was ineffective.
Sometimes big, unexpected events happen, and we must adapt to their consequences. Your strategy might have been to focus on a specific line of business because your biggest client was about to sign a major contract. But in the end, he decided to leave the business or close a specific direction, which led to the termination of the contract. In this case, you should think about changing your strategy.
Maybe you were looking to expand into a new region and it just experienced a military coup. In this case, it is better to abandon your strategy. If there is a major development happening within your organization or client, or even socio-politically, it may require you to iterate on the strategy.
Let's imagine that, overall, your expectations were met in relation to your original strategy, and circumstances did not undergo major changes. No military coups, no unexpected personnel changes. So what would cause you to abandon a plan that was working quite well?
The only true answer is something that gives you a much greater likelihood of growth and success than the path you are already on. Note that this must be very likely. It's easy to get excited about a new opportunity and convince yourself that it's the right path because it's new and different. But don’t deceive yourself, but rather conduct a small test of the new feature and consult with experts.
Strategy is great and extremely useful under normal circumstances, but when something truly unexpected happens, strategy has its limits. You didn't plan for this, so what will you do? This is the real value of strategic thinking because it is not just a fixed plan, it is the ability to think strategically while adapting to changing circumstances.
- First, people often make the mistake of clinging to past assumptions. The best thing you can do when a failure occurs is to take an honest look at the circumstances around you, and if your expectations have not been met, admit it so you can quickly move on to developing a new plan.
- Second, answer decisively. If something goes wrong, do not hesitate to make the necessary changes. Of course, you want to gather all the facts and see if your information is correct, but if it is, act as quickly as possible and don't let the situation worsen before your eyes.
- Third, you will have to improvise. This may seem the opposite of a strategy that is carefully planned and thought out. But improvisation does not mean inventing something new, it is just returning to the basic principles. In this case, seeing a vision for your organization, your team, or yourself and recognizing that if the current strategy is no longer working, you can develop another that will still help you achieve your vision.
You are looking for another way to achieve your vision. Sometimes strategic thinking means recognizing the limitations of a particular strategy and being willing to come up with something new, which is another, perhaps better, approach to achieving what you want.
Conclusion
Strategic thinking is a valuable asset that needs to be developed. In fact, it is necessary for everyone who is thinking about a leadership position. Try creating a recurring reminder once a week on your calendar to help you think strategically. Making the effort today to immerse yourself in strategic thinking is a competitive advantage that can pay big dividends for you, your team, and your company.
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Useful skills
After studying the key aspects of planning, you need to consider separately the skills on which the development of strategic thinking depends.
Collection of information
Obtaining all the necessary information about the goal, intermediate tasks, obstacles and possible tactics. Requires developed visual perception. If a person cannot obtain this information in advance, making a plan becomes pointless. Often, collecting information requires the ability to communicate with people, analyze, work with sources and “scroll through” various scenarios of events in your head.
Ability to distribute functions
In some situations, a team of people is needed to solve problems. Each team member is required to handle specific responsibilities. At the same time, the team requires a leader who can competently delegate authority. Collective planning relies heavily on social skills. It is necessary to gradually shape the thinking of a leader.
Action - transition from theory to practice
This is not such an easy skill as it might seem at first glance. Many people are called “theorists” for a reason. Even an ideal plan will not help achieve the goal if the individual does not begin implementation due to self-doubt. Constantly being active helps improve skills through trial and error. Excessive passivity deprives a person of experience and reduces the productivity of further planning.
These abilities can be developed at any age.
A story about a colleague who knew how to negotiate and easily got out of unforeseen situations
When I worked in a construction company, I often had to attend negotiations with partners. And sometimes during the discussion of an issue an unforeseen situation arose that baffled all representatives of our company. However, my colleague Stanislav always got out of the situation easily and naturally, sometimes offering fantastic options that had never even occurred to anyone. And at the same time we did not lose anything, we only gained.
Time passed, and soon Stanislav became the head of the company. He also continued to successfully negotiate and was never at a loss if he was asked tricky questions. I was amazed and even delighted by this quality of his. While studying articles on the Internet, I came across information about tactical thinking and understood how Stanislav managed to make decisions quickly and correctly all this time.
Development of abilities
You can improve your skills independently or under the supervision of a specialist. The approach depends on your goals and age. So, children need to do exercises to develop logic and engage in creative activities. Adults who want to improve strategic thinking in order to achieve career success can work with training managers and psychologists. A test for strategic thinking is first carried out, after which the optimal program is selected. In entrepreneurship and management, the ability to plan is considered a competence, so working with a specialist is never superfluous.
Useful tips:
- You need to receive as many positive emotions as possible to maintain motivation. This is a very important factor in any activity. It is recommended to periodically take a break from studying and devote time to hobbies.
- It is important to improve social skills, without which collective problem solving is impossible. To do this, you need to communicate more with people and learn to resolve issues without conflicts.
- Continuous acquisition of new knowledge. It is recommended to read more books and expand your horizons.
- It is necessary to solve strategic thinking problems. In the specialized literature you can find simple exercises to develop logic and creativity.
- Analysis before action. You should accustom yourself to this approach to achieve better results. To develop conditioned reflexes, such tactics should be applied in all areas of life.
- It is important to go to the end and achieve goals even when serious obstacles arise. Without this, learned helplessness is formed, making it difficult to move from theory to practice.
Improving cognitive abilities can take a long time. Often it is necessary to get rid of psychological rigidity that inhibits the acquisition of new skills.
Self-development as a leisure activity
If you are already tired of special exercises, you can diversify your training with a game. Strategic and logic games provide an opportunity to improve the skill of adapting to new situations. In addition, this is a wonderful option for a group pastime. You can improve your social skills and self-confidence along the way. Games that develop strategic thinking include chess, Rubik's cube, checkers, backgammon, dominoes and others. Don't be biased towards classic board games and children's entertainment.
