Can You Become a Better Strategic Thinker?

Thinking strategically doesn't always come easy for most of us. Or we get sidetracked by all of the operational stuff that comes up on a daily basis and we get away from looking at our businesses or work units from a strategic perspective.

So we offer a few things you can do to help ensure that some level of strategic thinking is in place on a consistent basis:

1.Remember that the foundation for a sound strategic plan is goals. They provide direction and focus and well as a basis for finding alternative ways of achieving them. Never lose sight of your goals.

2. Forget about "the way it's always been done". Think about how things could be and/or should be. Get outside your comfort zone!

3. Practice creative thinking. Tell yourself that no idea is too crazy. Generate as many ideas as possible. As an example, take one of your products or services and list all of the possible ways it could be marketed remembering that anything goes. Force yourself to be creative and think "outside the box".

4. Analyze and process data and information in an unbiased manner. Good long-term strategies are developed around good information and sound logical reasoning. Take the time to gather good data/information, but don't get caught up in over-analyzing things.

5. Look outside the operating environment. Learn to look at customers and markets available to you. Get externally focused. Understand your markets well and think about how new approaches might make sense.

6. Think in strategic terms rather than task-oriented terms. For example, suppose a goal is to grow revenues at an annual rate of 9%. This sets off all kinds of task-oriented thinking; staff needs, promotional materials, space planning, etc. Think more in terms of alternative strategies for growing the business....new ways to penetrate existing markets with a new product for example.

7. Become a thinker. Take time to sit back and clear your mind of details and just think. Think less about details and more about your goals and how to achieve them. Step back and think big picture on a regular basis. Find quiet time to do it. Thought can be the most productive form of work.

8. Generate as many ideas as possible. Quantity will often breed quality. Also, some ideas can come together to form very effective strategies.

MyBusinessBooks Releases Marketing Plan Manual

MyBusinessBooks has just released our new Marketing Plan Manual! Writing a comprehensive and sound marketing plan can mean the difference between success and failure. The Marketing Plan Manual is a complete guide that includes all of the instructions, forms and templates needed to write the kind of plan that will help ensure high levels of success. This manual will help you:

-Create effective marketing objectives and strategies.
-Analyze and organize information and data needed to develop your plan.
-Identify and define your target markets.
-Develop realistic and attainable sales projections.
-Price your products to maximize margins and volume.
-Define an advertising and promotion plan that positions your company and products appropriately.
-Build a distribution channel that maximizes revenues and customer satisfaction.
-Plan your personnel needs and define roles.
-Develop a marketing budget that makes sense.
-Utilize market research to support decisions.
-Create an action plan that defines each activity or task, who is responsible for ensuring their completion, and when they must be completed.
-Write a complete and comprehensive marketing plan that will get the results you want.
Your marketing plan should be written in a manner that is straightforward, practical, and realistic. And it should give you the best possible chance of meeting or exceeding sales and gross profit objectives.

This manual is a comprehensive guide that walks you through the entire process of writing a marketing plan that will help you gain a competitive and strategic advantage. Written by marketing professionals who understand how to think strategically and develop plans that differentiate one company and its products from the competition, The Marketing Plan Manual is widely used by organizations of all types and sizes. It works equally well in small and large businesses.