A Strategic Thinking Approach Based on Your MBTI Type
Do you want to unlock your full potential when it comes to strategic thinking? It turns out that your personality type can play a big role in how you approach this crucial skill. In this article, we'll explore how understanding your unique cognitive functions can help you become a strategic thinking superstar.
Strategic thinking is an essential skill for success in today's business world. However, not everyone approaches this skill in the same way. Your personality type can play a significant role in how you approach strategic thinking, and understanding your unique cognitive functions can help you unlock your full potential in this area. In this article, we'll explore how different personality types can implement strategic thinking and how to schedule strategic thinking time based on your personality.
I. Strategic vs Tactical
Often, individuals overestimate the time required for activities they dislike, and underestimate the time needed for activities they enjoy. This can lead to poor time management and a lack of motivation to engage in necessary but less enjoyable activities. Understanding this tendency can help people better allocate their time and prioritize tasks, leading to increased productivity and a more balanced lifestyle.
In the context of strategic thinking, it's important to recognize that different Myers-Briggs personality types have different strengths and weaknesses. By understanding your own personality type and using all four MBTI function preferences, you can approach problem-solving and decision-making more effectively.
Self-awareness is key to improving strategic thinking, and it's important to remember that mindset is more important than strategy. Even if you struggle with pausing and reflecting, starting with small steps and practicing over time can lead to significant improvement.
Strategic thinking is a vital part of achieving success in business, team projects, or personal goals. It involves an intentional and rational thought process that focuses on analyzing facts to create a clear picture of where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there.
Strategic thinking can help you create the future you want and improve your productivity and time management. However, it's essential to understand the difference between strategic and tactical work to achieve a fair balance.
Definition: Strategic thinking is an intentional and rational thought process that focuses on analyzing facts with a broad, long-term view to develop plans and actions that align with big picture goals and objectives. In the long run, it influences the success of a business, a team, or a person.
Definition: Tactical thinking refers to actions or strategies that are focused on achieving short-term goals or addressing immediate needs or situations. It involves making decisions and taking actions based on current circumstances rather than a long-term plan or strategy.
Strategic activities include making long-term plans, such as creating a third-quarter plan for 2022, while tactical activities include answering emails and other day-to-day tasks. You need both reflective and action time to achieve your goals effectively.
One way to schedule strategic time is to set aside 30 minutes per week for reflection. You can treat yourself to a casual date with a nice coffee, a notebook, and your laptop. During this time, reflect on your past week and month, and ask yourself what went well and what didn't. Assess whether you are still aligned with your values and goals in life, and if you are unhappy, determine what needs to change.
For example, if you want to move from the UK to Canada, this strategic date time could be when you check why you want to do that, draft a vague plan that will include time to educate yourself, chat with friends in Canada, and gather information, book a call with an immigration expert, etc. The 30 minutes are not for daydreaming but to give you the mental space and time to project yourself and plan. Your strategic plan should drive tactical daily habits and activities. If you don't use your plan, why bother creating one?
The aim of productivity should never be to do more, but to do less, more effectively.
To concretely execute your plan, follow three simple rules: acumen, allocation, and action.
Acumen refers to the insight and information you need, while allocation is where you want to focus your resources, such as time, skills, and money. Finally, action involves staying focused on what is essential and not what is urgent. Remember that the aim of productivity should never be to do more, but to do less, more effectively.
II. How to develop strategic thinking
Carl Jung is the father of the cognitive function, which then lead to the work of Myers-Briggs on personality types (known as MBTI).
Carl Jung identified four cognitive functions: sensation, intuition, thinking, and feeling. Isabel Briggs Myers then added to each function extraversion (which you can see happening in front of you, outward focus) or introversion (which you cannot see, inward focus). The result is that we have introverted or extroverted sensation (how you absorb and process information), introverted or extroverted intuition (how you absorb and process information), introverted or extroverted thinking (how you make decisions), and introverted or extroverted feeling (how you make decisions). These combinations of cognitive functions are known as the MBTI types.
Knowing your cognitive function type can help you to implement strategic thinking based on your personality. However, it's important to note that some people are better at strategic thinking than others. The principal reason for this is that different types see the world with their own lens and process and analyze information differently, as well as making decisions differently. Understanding why you might not be equal to others when it comes to strategic thinking and planning is the first step in improving yourself and becoming better at strategic thinking.
To develop strategic thinking, it's important to have a fair balance of strategic and tactical activities. You can't always be in the tactical activities, as it can be like running and exhausting yourself without knowing where you are going. Doing only strategic activities without the tactical is leading to nothing. A reflection period of at least 30 minutes per week can be a good start to project yourself and plan. During this time, you can reflect on how the week and month went, what went great and what didn't, and if you're still aligned with your values and goals in life.
In addition to understanding your unique cognitive functions and personality type, there are several general tips that can help you improve your strategic thinking skills.
The first tips would always be self awareness; The process of behaviour change always starts with awareness. You need to be aware of your way of thinking before you can change them.
As the psychologist Carl Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
2. Reading and staying on top of trends
Reading widely and staying informed is one of the most important things you can do to improve your strategic thinking. Keeping up with industry news, trends, and best practices can help you stay ahead of the curve and identify emerging opportunities. Make sure you read widely and diversely, so you can see different perspectives and approaches.
3. Embrace creativity and innovation
Embracing creativity and innovation is another key to improving your strategic thinking. Don't be afraid to think outside the box and explore unconventional ideas. Innovation often requires taking risks and trying new things, so don't be afraid to experiment and push the boundaries of what you know.
4. Big Picture Perspective
Focusing on the big picture is also an important aspect of strategic thinking. This means taking a long-term view and considering the broader implications of your decisions. When you understand the context and the larger picture, you are better equipped to make informed decisions that will benefit you and your organization.
5. Stay Flexible
Staying flexible is also crucial to improving your strategic thinking skills. Plans don't always work out, and being able to pivot quickly is a key to success. Be willing to adapt and change course as needed, and don't be too wedded to your original ideas.
6. Collaboration
Finally, collaborating with others is an essential component of strategic thinking. Working with colleagues and peers can help you gain new perspectives and insights, and can lead to more effective problem-solving. When you collaborate with others, you can share ideas, divide the workload, and learn from each other's experiences.
Remember, strategic thinking is not a natural talent, but a skill that can be developed and honed over time. By focusing on self-awareness, creativity, and collaboration, you can become a strategic thinking superstar and achieve your goals with confidence.
Before ending this article, I want to introduce a problem-solving approach using the MBTI framework.
The Zig-Zag process model
The Zig-Zag process model is a problem-solving approach that suggests utilizing all four of the MBTI function preferences of Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling, instead of relying solely on your main cognitive function.
This model is important to use regardless of your MBTI type. By utilizing all four function preferences, you can approach problems from different perspectives and gain a more comprehensive understanding. Each MBTI type will have their own unique way of analyzing and making decisions, as they each see the world through their own lens and process information differently.
For instance, a person with the Sensing preference may focus more on concrete details and facts, while a person with the Intuition preference may prefer to rely on their hunches and gut feelings. When it comes to strategic thinking, these differences in cognitive processes can result in a diverse range of approaches and solutions, making it crucial to consider multiple perspectives in order to arrive at the best possible outcome.
If you were to remember only one thing today: The golden rule is: the Zig Zag Model
My ultimate tip: I am sure you know someone who is very fact-oriented (for me it is my partner); another person who always plenty ideas and brainstorm like no one (maybe a friend of yours, of family member) ; a 3rd person who is very analytical and challenge the status quo; and finally a 4th person who seeks harmony and peace among everyone.
Pick their identities while you run through the problem: What would my partner do? okay I write it down. What would the 2nd person do here? (who has always plenty ideas) Okay I write it down. And so on for the 3rd and 4th person
The Zig-Zag process model posits that the most effective way to solve problems is to utilize all four of the MBTI function preferences of Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, and Feeling, and not rely on just the driver and co-pilot.
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