The 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking
The 6 Disciplines of Strategic Thinking
In this video lesson, Professor Michael Watkins outlines six key disciplines of strategic thinking that can benefit anyone aspiring to lead, emphasizing their role in recognizing opportunities, prioritizing actions, and mobilizing resources for career growth.
Defining Strategic Thinking
In response to the Suez Canal blockage in March 2021, Professor Michael Watkins emphasizes that leaders can enhance their strategic thinking skills—through pattern recognition, systems analysis, mental agility, structured problem-solving, visioning, and political savvy—to better navigate the complexities of global trade disruptions.
Pattern Recognition
In this video, Professor Michael Watkins explains how to improve pattern recognition and avoid cognitive traps, emphasizing the importance of understanding biases like confirmation bias and the sunk cost fallacy in making effective decisions in complex situations.
Systems Analysis
Professor Michael Watkins emphasizes that organizations should be analyzed by focusing on key components—strategy, structure, systems, talent, incentives, and culture—to identify interdependencies and drive improvement, similar to how one would examine an airplane engine by its essential parts.
Mental Agility
In this video lesson, Professor Michael Watkins emphasizes the importance of mental agility in strategic thinking, comparing chess to business decision-making, where each choice triggers a ripple effect, requiring a balance between big-picture awareness and attention to detail.
Structured Problem-Solving
Professor Michael Watkins emphasizes that structured problem-solving is essential for teams to clarify issues, explore relevant solutions, and foster consensus, ultimately leading to robust outcomes, especially in uncertain times.
Visioning
Professor Michael Watkins emphasizes that to effectively achieve a strategic vision, organizations must dream big while starting small, engaging their teams early to create a compelling, shared vision that balances ambition with achievability.
Political Savvy
Professor Michael Watkins emphasizes that rather than avoiding office politics, professionals should embrace and leverage it as a strategic tool for career advancement by building alliances, understanding stakeholder dynamics, and employing a thoughtful approach to influence and collaboration.
Engaging with AI
Professor Michael Watkins emphasizes that instead of being overwhelmed by AI, professionals should actively engage with it to enhance strategic thinking, problem-solving, and career advancement by challenging AI to produce smarter, more creative solutions.
What is “strategic thinking”? In a nutshell, Michael Watkins’ research suggests that “it means looking beyond the present situation and thinking critically and creatively about the many potential futures.” Sounds great in theory. But how do you actually do it? Watkins has an answer for that, too. He breaks his overarching, forward-looking mindset into six specific disciplines you can practice to build your strategic thinking intentionally and holistically.
Learning Objectives
- Discern key elements of complex issues.
- Make your organization more adaptive.
- Anticipate other people’s reactions.
- Co-create a concise vision with your team.
- Build alliances and mobilize support.