Strategic Thinking for the 21st
Leader
You must lead at a higher level
for your company’s sustainability
http://www.leant3.com
Who Are You
1. “He/she turns the most trivial condition
into an exception opportunity.”
2. “He/she craves order and builds the
house.”
3. “He/she takes things apart to put them
back together.”
• Kiddieville has tried different things, but
not making a profit, close to tragedy. It
tried selling disposable diapers, as a loss
leader, but stopped when it became too
expensive. It has experimented endlessly
with pricing and promotion schemes. Its
biggest competitor has a price advantage. It
has tried upgraded store environment with
added cost w/o adding sales. Describe the
problem.
• “He/she turns the most trivial condition into
an exception opportunity.”
The Entrepreneur
• “He/she craves order and builds the house.”
The Manager
• “He/she takes things apart to put them back
together.” The Technician
Two Sections in our Workshop
• Section One: To learn about four strategic
thinking competencies
• Section Two: To learn about four HR
strategies
How Would You
Define Creativity?
Creativity: any unconditioned response or
interpretation.
Exploring this definition might make you
ponder how conditioned we are in our lives,
families, work, relationships…
Creative thinking may
simply mean the
realization that there
is no particular virtue
in doing things the
way they have always
been done.
- Rudolph Flesch,
Education
“Why do we not think something
different more often?”
• We are creatures of habit – staying on a routine
adds stability.
• We are not taught to think outside of the
boundaries.
• We have certain attitudes that lock our thinking
and keep us thinking “more of the same.”
Discussion Questions
1. How do you, as a leader, set boundaries
and not allow for creativity in your
work environment?
2. What can you do to eliminate these
boundaries?
3. What motivates you to be creative?
WHAT’S YOUR ATTITUDE?
Two shoe salespeople
were sent to a faraway
island to sell shoes.
After the first day,
both sent back
telegrams. One read:
“This place is a
disaster. No one
wears shoes.” The
other telegram said:
“This place is a gold
mine. No one wears
shoes.”
Tear Down Blocks
1. Negative Attitude
• It would take too
much time.
• It’s impossible
• You can’t do that
here.
• Our customer would
never go for that.
Tear Down Blocks
2. Fear of Failure
• FEAR: False Evidence
Appearing Real
• “If you took this risk and
failed, what is the worst
that could happen?”
3. Making Assumptions
•
•
“What are possibilities?”
“What do I take for granted?”
4. Over-Reliance on Logic
Competency #1: Entrepreneur
• Create probabilities
out of possibilities
• Live in the future
ACTIVITY
• “What else can it be
used for?”
• “What could be
used instead?”
• How could it be
adopted or modified
for a new use?
Foretelling and Metaphorical
• Foretell the future
• Pay attention
• Metaphorical
ACTIVITY
• “How is your job
like driving a car on
the freeway?”
• “How is an iceberg
like a good idea?”
Competency #2: Market Leader
• Superior Thinking
Style
• Reinvent
Analogy and Reinvent
• “A defense contractor developed a missile
that had to fit so closely within its silo it
could not be pushed in.”
SAMPLE ANALOGIES
1. Trying to get a horse into its stall.
2. Trying to get toothpaste back in tube.
3. Trying to get item back into shrink wrap.
SOLVE THE PROBLEM
The missile fits so closely within
the silo that it cannot be pushed in.
How then to get it in?
TO GET A HORSE THAT CANNOT BE
PUSHED INTO ITS STALL YOU NEED
TO LEAD IT IN.
THEREFORE, YOU LEAD THE
MISSILE INTO THE SILO BY PULLING
IT WITH A CABLE.
Competency #3: Kindergartener
• Right and wrong
answers
• Play
• Break the patterns
• Invite Ambiguity
• Eliminate idea
killers
Competency #4: Explorer
• Inner Voice
• Feelings
Four HR Strategies
• Innovative Strategy
• Quality Enhancement Strategy
• Cost-Reduction Strategy
• Speed Strategy
Van Daele & Associates, Inc.
260.482.1744
http:www.vtrain.us