Title: How to Become a Strategic Thinker

Hello,

Can you guess what one of the most important leadership qualities
is?

Two words: Strategic Thinking.

In order to become a strategic thinker, you need to learn to be
able to envision a project or task from the initial phase to
the end-result.

You'll always have a goal in mind and be able to create the
structure that will take your team step-by-step until they've
completed the task or project.

This means you'll need to learn to master the art of careful
and strategic planning, while also preparing for potential problems,
delays or obstacles that you'll need to work around.

Without a carefully constructed strategy, it’s very difficult to
achieve your goals, much less keep a team on track. 

Example: You might have the goal to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. 

Your strategy might include getting an MBA and a host of other steps
that will put you in a position to achieve that goal.

The thing about strategy is that it’s not just for you. Having a
strategy in place can help you get investors to fund your company,
and it can also help you inspire your team and keep them focused.

Some people have a natural gift for strategic thinking. They’re the
people who are able to stay ahead of the curve, minimize potential
problems and quite often have thought out every single step in the
process.

If you’re not one of those naturally gifted "thought leaders", don't
worry! There are simple ways to improve your ability to think 
strategically and to become a stronger leader:

Before you make any decision, think about some possible outcomes and
brainstorm what you’ll do next with each one. This is the kind of
practical thinking that can help you become a better strategist.

Think about your goals and work backwards to figure out what actions
will help you achieve them. Think of this as reverse-engineering a
strategy.

Ask team members and trusted friends for suggestions to help you plan
strategically. Be open minded and encourage communication, feedback
and suggestions.  

Try creating a timeline to plan each step on the way to your goal.

In tomorrow’s email, I’ll leave you with some final tips.

Until then, 

{YOUR NAME HERE}
