In an era of hyper-competition and increasing customer expectations, leaders need to be able to do the right things (effectiveness) as well as to do things right (efficiency) says management guru and author, Peter Drucker.
As leaders and managers often fall into the same category, they are taught to think the same way. Regardless of their title, they also need to do things differently (innovation).
The following eight steps are a guide on how to think differently and break the business-as-usual incremental cycle.
1. Set yourself a goal of being able to think differently – on demand
The ability to think through problems facing the business is a basic requirement of someone in a leadership position. If you are not thinking about your business, market, customers or the competition, someone else is.
Just like any other skill, it takes practice to become a better thinker. One way to perfect this skill and to generate new ideas, solutions and possibilities at will, is to set a goal.
The goal you set could be a subjective or objective measure. This could be asking yourself “Am I better able to think differently than this time last year?” or asking your peers to rate your ability to thinking differently on a 10-point scale.
2. Go against the crowd
Leadership takes imagination and courage, said former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keeting. Though many choose to follow the crowd or consensus, it is beneficial from time-to-time to adopt the least popular position and look at the situation from a different perspective.
Doing this thought exercise may also sharpen the reasons why you consider an alternative action.
3. Put yourself in another leader’s position and ask what would you do?
One theory to improve your golf game is to imagine how you might play the next shot of your playing partners. This same logic applies to leadership teams, as leaders often focuses solely on their area of responsibility.
Considering the decision that others would make, may change the way you approach a project or task. For example, if marketing is your responsibility, ask yourself what big initiative you might consider if you were given the financial portfolio.
4. The power of three
In any situation, leaders think of three solutions: the usual one, a different one, and a radical one.
By giving yourself the opportunity and permission to express an idea outside the norm, you will end up with a much broader range of options.
5. Seek diverse perspectives
In order to think differently, you need to surround yourself with people who have a different view of the world, otherwise you will rarely end up with a truly new suggestion. This could be talking to people outside your industry or category, partners, suppliers or employees who have just joined your business.
Engaging with this new group will expand your mindset and challenge the way you think.
6. Be open to different points of view
It is important to encourage others to think differently within your teams. Make a point to recognise and highlight those who share their ideas, even if you do not agree with them.
7. Ask original questions
If you already know the answer to a question, asking it will not open any new areas of opportunity.
Just as important as it is to ask the correct people questions, it is equally important to ask insightful questions that invoke fresh thinking.
8. Use thinking tools
Tools such as mind mapping, are designed to enhance your ability to think differently and help you visualise and link solutions.
Blitz is a new tool used to speed up the process of solving problems and generating new ideas.
The ability to think differently is an important skill to learn. Though it will take practice, it will be a worthwhile journey as it is quickly becoming a key attribute of an outstanding 21st century leader.
Keynote Speaker at Finance Leaders' Summit in Oct
Article originally written by Dr. Ken Hudson, leading expert in organisation creativity, innovation & speed thinking, Bell-Selling Author and keynote speaker at the Finance Leaders' Summit this October on the 25th in Sydney and 27th in Melbourne.
To learn more about the event,
