Leadership Brilliance™ Reflections

Actions That Develop Innovation & Strategic Thinking

Most of my clients are looking to innovation and strategic thinking as solutions for their current career, collaboration or leadership dilemmas. Too often people believe there is a "secret plan that is out there", that is out of reach or has not yet released and communicated by their organizations. Of course this belief is not true and counter productive, resulting in too much time today spent waiting for something to happen. Being innovative, thinking and acting strategically is simpler to incorporate on a daily basis then we often realize. It requires a willingness to show-up and champion the approaches listed below.

Here’s what you can do to innovate and take strategic action:

- Anticipate and thoroughly explore what is changing
- Demonstrate and examine situations from a multitude of viewpoints
- Appreciate conflicting perspectives expressed by others (including clients)
- Recognize and respect the implications of differing approaches and choices
- Simplify priorities for action and to ensure productivity
- Learn from your choices and risks; incorporate your lessons
- Navigate change without isolating others or avoiding new challenges
- Actively present recommendations that includes current changes
- Infuse analysis with current market information
- Create “what if” scenarios to challenge the status quo
- Make time to understand peoples’ roles, strengths and contributions
- Coach and direct others to innovate by recommending they suggest new approaches to projects
- Communicate regularly about how current change is impacting the organization’s vision and specific objectives
- Realize that course corrections arise quickly and need to be addressed and communicated due to the nature of today’s business climate