What makes a good strategist

A positive person will always look for positive outcomes. Hence, they will confidently create practical strategies. Confident strategists can give self-assurance and provide encouragement to colleagues who implement their plans.

This practice boosts morals and enables the workforce to work with complete dedication. A great strategist is always competitive. A lot of plans fail in the business world because they neglect to examine their competitors and their strategies. Without knowing what others are doing and how their actions will backfire, a strategy will fail miserably even if it looks promising. This is why a successful strategist competitively examines every aspect before making a decision.

Success is achieved by those who are reasonable. A successful strategist acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead and proposes a viable plan instead of ignoring them and proposing something unrealistic.

Successful strategists can look ahead by examining what can be done and what has been done so far to determine the outcome of a strategy. In fact, a strategist always plans for the future. Sometimes people will come to you with a question, and you will help them to understand what their question involves.

Some teams are motivated by creating commercial returns. Some teams are motivated by improving offerings for customers. Some teams want to create social good. Whatever the motivation, if you understand what is driving a strategic question, you will also be equipped to explore what is obscured by specific motivations.

For example, the person who wants to launch a product to generate commercial returns, may also need help see what customers expect for the product to be truly attractive. Strategists take pleasure in solving problems and exploring opportunities. They are curious at heart. I would not say I am naturally curious. When teams say they need to figure out their 18 month plan, offer to help.

When leaders tell you they have a hunch there is an opportunity in a new business idea, offer to flesh it out. This is in the mind of the strategist.

Strategy is about helping people visualise possible futures for action, based on the evidence they have at hand today. Because the future is intangible ie.

They know their ideas have to be bulletproof. When creating a strategy, they are constantly challenging their own thinking. They know everyone is going to look to poke a hole in it. In the end, after having heard the input of everyone from the start, deeply listening to each voice, and distilling what everyone has said, great strategists always go back and gut test. Where is the client going to get hung up? Successful strategists have strategically accounted for these places and can protect them and move the strategy forward.

Great strategists delight in the world and its interconnectivity. This is why the most talented strategist are often veracious readers who immerse in a wide net of areas.

Curiosity is key here. And great strategists are always well-rounded, holistic thinkers. They evolve as the world evolves and business shifts. So successful strategists can draw insights from everywhere.

One of our favorite parallels to draw at EB is between brand strategy and coaching. As such, great strategists often act as coaches. If you are wanting to become more effective at work or meet more long-term goals, being a good strategist is the first step. To become a good strategist, begin by identifying something specific you would like to achieve. This could be a bad habit you would like to break or a long-term goal you aim to reach. Once you have an objective in mind, establish a SMART goal, meaning a goal that is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.

Then, break this larger goal into a series of steps. As you work toward your goal, stay positive and keep track of what you have accomplished. For more information from our reviewer, including how to accept constructive criticism, see below. Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue.

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Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Know the issues. Developing strategy is built on a foundation of understanding.

In order to create a method by which you can succeed in your given area, you must recognize and accept the shortcomings. When you understand what needs work, you can build a strong action plan for overcoming those obstacles. Here's how to spot those shortcomings. People often avoid what they feel less competent in.

Pay attention to the feedback of those around you. If your partner and your boss give similar constructive criticism, the common ground may be an area of weakness for you. Ask the opinion of a trusted friend.

Find someone who will speak candidly with you and ask him what areas you can refine. Look closely at previous setbacks. When you failed at a task in the past, what were the major barriers to your success?

Recognize the resources available to you. The next step toward identifying your given objectives is to assess what resources you have at hand. Do you have everything you need to reach your goals? Are you maximizing these resources by using them most effectively? Make use of every person available to you for optimal success. Figure out where you want to be. Now is the time to dream. Close your eyes and envision what you would like to see happening in your life over a set period of time.

Think about your career. Your relationships. Your finances. Your passions.