Strategic thinking is an involved process that leverages several soft skills. It starts by seeking understanding (Active Listening & Intellectual Humility) and focused, effortful thinking where reason dominates (Critical Thinking), which is the opposite of our typical every day, automatic thinking. And it requires foresight, which is the ability to identify reactions four, five, or six steps beyond an initial action (Problem-Solving).

Being a strategic thinker is essential at work today – it is one of the most highly sought-after skills by employers. It leads to creative, innovative, breakthrough ideas that elevate our company's customer experience, eliminate problems customers face, or introduce processes that make a company run more efficiently. 

When we demonstrate strategic thinking and sound decision-making at work, it can lead to new work opportunities. It also leads to lower stress and anxiety because it eliminates the need to re-work some project or task and speeds up completing our responsibilities.