Formulating a Strategy

As I move through the management diploma programme I am beginning to understand that there is a lot to learn and that the best way forward is to target the effort in a strategic way.

Stategic thinking is an oft used phrase that has an important rationale for existence. Any organisation or individual needs a set of longer term goals which can provide the focus for the overall destination that short term goals can't provide. The Covey mantra is begin with the end in mind and in essence this establishes the final end goal or strategic view. Within The Seven Habits (if memory serves me) Covey gets the reader to imagine their funeral and understand what the guests will be saying about them at that time. I think this is a bit extreme as a way to engender a sense of long term thinking, but the point is important.

What for me is clearly worthwhile is the time spent thinking about 'ultimate' goals. These can then be used to frame and contextualise the shorter term aims which can, in turn, lead the everyday thought process. This essentially moves behaviour from the reactive to the proactive.

Whichever way you look at things there is still a need to find time to do some long term strategic thinking. Time consuming, but worth it; I would say!