Thinking is a discipline. If you want to be better at it, you’ve got to work at it Consider developing a thinking schedule like Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy, who sets aside a half day every two weeks, a whole day every month, and two or three full days every year. Smart thinkers expose themselves to different ideas and types of people They’re also selective about spending most of their time with people who challenge them. It’s one thing to have an idea, another to follow through “Ideas have a short shelf life. You must act on them before the expiration date.” Thoughts need time to develop. Don’t just settle on the first thing that comes to mind Remember the last time you had a brilliant idea at 2 a.m., but it sounded sort of ridiculous when you woke up the next morning? Thoughts need to be “shaped until they have substance” and need to stand the test of “clarity and questioning.” Smart people collaborate with other smart people Thinking with others yields higher returns. It’s like giving yourself a shortcut. That’s why brainstorming sessions are so effective. Reject popular thinking (which often means not thinking at all) Too many people act, hoping that others have thought things through first.To reject popular thinking you must be OK with feeling uncomfortable. Also remember that right now, there are a bunch of other people out there deciding to think for themselves — and they’re the ones who are successful. The best thinkers plan ahead, while leaving room for some spontaneity When you’re strategic, you reduce your margin of error. Simply having vague ideas of where you are and what you want to accomplish will get you no where.The keys to being strategic: 1. break the issue down, 2. ask why the problem needs to be solved, 3. identify the key issues, 4. review your resources, 5. put the right people in place.Henry Ford once said, “Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into smaller parts.” To think differently, do different things Try new routes to work, meet new people, read books you might even consider boring. The key is exposure to new ideas and ways of life. To appreciate others’ ideas, you need to value other ideas You can’t think you’re always right. Give other concepts a chance. Have an agenda — for the day, and when you meet with people Too many people only plan for the day. Smart thinkers take time to plan out their weeks, months, and long-term goals — and then they follow through.They also don’t walk into meetings, parties and coffee dates blind. They decide what they want to learn from people before walking through the door. Reflective thinking gives you perspective and confidence in your decision-making skills If you’re not reflecting, it’s holding you back more than you think.As Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Get over negative self talk. Winners think in terms of “I will” and “I can” S
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 05:39:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015