Strategic Thinking: A Core Competency
Our Conventional Wisdom workshop challenges participants to examine their professional beliefs and experience and develop a snapshot of the future. Drawing on their collective wisdom and experience, participant teams evaluate and vote on the likelihood of future events. These possible “headlines” are created after thorough extensive research by our team, that includes interviews with senior executives, industry reports and business intelligence.
Through this two-hour workshop participants gain insights into their own knowledge and expertise, as well as that of their colleagues. They also obtain an appreciation for their own biases and blind spots and how it can limit their innovation, as well as leadership. After attending this class managers evaluate potential opportunities differently and more creatively.
Designed as a stand-alone offering or part of our a larger program, this session is ideal for scenario-planning, brainstorming or strategic planning purposes.
- Competitive strategy is the backbone of senior executive competence.
- To build bench strength you must develop enhanced strategic awareness.
- A strong foundation in strategic principles and thinking is essential to successful innovation.
- Managers who understand strategy stay focused and leverage opportunities that align with corporate goals.
The workshop teaches strategic thinking skills and motivates participants to practice these skills immediately and in their ongoing work. We address common gaps observed in ten years of working with high-potential talent. Participants engage in exercises using a combination of case studies and projects that illustrate the importance of strategic thinking in day-to-day operations as well as long-term planning. The workshop covers the following key areas:
- Strategic Ideation: How to brainstorm so as to uncover ideas with strong strategic potential, going beyond the bounds of current products and modes of business, while staying within the strategic intent of the firm.
- Strategic Research: How to map out what you need to know, dig for evidence of it, and know when you have enough to answer a high-level strategic question.
- Business Plan Development: What is a business plan? What functions does it serve? How does one approach developing one? Revising one? Seeking targeted feedback? How does it differ from the typical Powerpoint “deck” most participants are used to delivering?
- Holistic Thinking: How to move beyond academic concepts to work all of the project elements and a strategic business plan into harmony with one another.
- The Art of the Elevator Pitch: How to encapsulate product or service ideas so that they elicit enthusiasm and engagement.