The Critical Thinker Issue #2 : Questions, Questions, Questions!

Ever had an “annoying” boss who would ask difficult questions?

- When you have a problem you go to them for help; after all, they’ve “been there done that” so should have a ready-made answer for you, but you don’t get “the answer” you expect, just one or two cutting questions that you know will make you think and work harder!
- When you make a presentation, they see through the glitzy animation and have that irritating habit of asking the question(s) that make you feel like the rabbit in the proverbial headlights!

I did. His name was Lingham. He drove me mad! It was only later that I realized he was doing me a favour. Why so?

Questions are the only mechanism available to us to make people think. And, that includes ourselves! Critical Thinking and Questioning Skills are different sides of the same coin. So, I suppose, Lingham played a part in the Critical Thinking journey I am still experiencing.

What about you? Do you want to know how to pre-empt your “annoying” boss? Are you curious about how to become that “annoying” boss? Oops, those pesky questions again! Well, you’ll need to equip yourself with the right questions to ask. Read more in The Critical Thinker Issue #2. It’s available for download here.

The Strategic Thinker Issue #1 : What is Strategic Thinking?

The word strategy and its many derivatives – top level strategy, corporate strategy, strategy map, strategic objectives, strategic leverage, strategic project - are “music” to many a business person’s ears. Savvy managers frequently use some of these, and other “strategic” terms, to get past a stubborn PA when they might not otherwise have been able to! The reality, however, is that the word strategy means different things to different people. Reflect on the following statements:

• “My strategy is to be the No. 1 in my chosen segment. The tactics that I will pursue are ...”
• “My goal is to be the No. 1 in my chosen market segment. The strategy that I will pursue is ...”

The word strategy is used in two entirely opposite senses. Most of us have witnessed or experienced the “fun” of a discussion on strategy when the parties involved have different perceptions of the word strategy. We can hear the wheels spinning now!

Besides, there is a tendency among the overwhelming majority to equate strategy with strategic planning. “An off-site strategy meeting” usually means “An off-site strategic planning meeting”.

But ... Strategic Planning does not Strategic Thinking maketh! Read this article on ‘What Is Strategic Thinking?’ to learn more...