If everyone is thinking alike, then
somebody isn’t thinking. – General George S. Patton
A story is
told of a man who bought a new gadget- unassembled, of course, and after
reading and rereading the instructions he couldn’t figure out how it went
together. Finally, he sought the help of an old handyman who was working in the
backyard.
The old
fellow picked up the pieces, studied them, and then began assembling the
gadget. In a short time, he had it put together. “That’s amazing,” said the
man. “And you did it without even looking at the instructions!” “The fact is,”
the old man said, “I can’t read, and when a fellow can’t read, he’s got to
think.”
Thinking is
essential to your leadership. You deal with dozens of decisions a day that
require clear thought and sound judgment and you need to be able to make those
decisions wisely. How you think is just as important as what you
think. Here are six ways to think and lead with confidence.
Think inside the box for structure.
Structure is
a discipline you need as a leader. Your team draws strength and stability from
knowing you are leading with confidence and taking the organization in the
right direction. Thinking inside the box helps to secure proper boundaries. These
boundaries aren’t meant to restrict you but to give you direction. Think big
thoughts and channel them in the right direction.
Think outside the box for creativity.
Thinking
outside the box is where your creative juices are given permission to roam freely
and be tested for reliability. Not every idea or thought you have outside the
box will become reality but if you ever plan grow beyond your current state you
need to get out of the box. Thinking outside the box grows your boundaries and
expands your creativity. Don’t be afraid to grow your borders.
Think independently for confidence.
There should
be regular times when you step away from the noise and clatter of the office
and find time for thinking and reflecting in private. It’s during these times you
gain clarity for your vision and new direction for your purpose. The
credibility of your leadership is developed as you demonstrate sound thinking
with reliable judgments. Develop this skill in quiet times and your voice will
be a respected one in the challenging times.
Think collaboratively for the big
picture.
Nothing will
get creativity flowing more than collaborative brain-storming sessions with
everyone at the table. When ideas are flowing out of a shared passion and
commitment to success it builds morale and unity. As a leader you need and
should want to know what others are thinking. The big picture becomes clearer
when everyone has skin, as well as their thoughts, in the game. When you think
together and work together you will succeed together.
Think short term for building success.
Short-term
goals are simply the foundations and pillars of your long range plans. Rome
wasn’t built in a day and neither will your goals and dreams. Your business
plan contains the necessary ingredients and ideas for you to follow. Your
short-term goals are simply measuring rods or benchmarks of your success.
Thinking through and executing your short term goals are an essential part of
reaching your future goals. Think short term but don’t be short-sighted.
Think long term for enduring success.
Your long
term success is a product of right thinking in the short-term as well as for
the long haul. It takes patience, dedication, and hard work to achieve those
goals. Thinking through your goals and executing your plan will come in phases
and each one will require different actions. Along the way you can evaluate
where you are what adjustments you need to make. Thinking through both short
term and long term goals will guide you through this process.
“Thoughts,
like fleas,” said Stanislaw Lec, “jump from man to man. But they don’t bite
everybody.” That’s why critical thinking is a discipline leaders must learn to
develop. As you cultivate your thinking skills you can lead with greater
confidence and skill.
What are you
thinking?
© 2013 Doug
Dickerson
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