Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand. Colin Powell

As I scramble to meet the next business deadline, I understand that organizations can get sidetracked while dealing with todays problems. Therefore, leaders need to constantly stay focused and think strategically. Some leaders make decisions for short-term gain. However, good planning doesnt always equate to strategic planning.

Strategic thinking involves recognizing and focusing on issues and events that are significant in decision-making. If you work a day job and build your dreams at night, you are more than a moonlighter. You are operating in duality. Wacker, Taylor, and Means, management experts, maintain that successful companies exist in duality while maneuvering in the present and future.

Likewise, if you want to be a different breed of leader, you must focus on long-term objectives, not short-term gains. I hope that this knowledge brings you closer to the reality of your vision. Dont let your followers be distracted by short-term results. Similarly, you shouldnt be either. Inspire your followers with a shared vision, thereby preparing for long-term benefits.

References:

Mitchell, R. (2005). Strategic Thinking. Received on June 6, 2006 from http://www.csun.edu/~hfmgt001/st-thinking.htm.

Wacker, W., Taylor, J., & Means, H. (2000). New York: HarperBusiness.

2006 by Daryl D. Green