What is the difference between a plan and a thought? A thought is an idea, a concept, or even an opinion that enters our minds. When we choose to turn that idea into action, we create or implement a plan. When it comes to strategic thinking and strategic planning, we must make the same distinction.
What is strategic planning?
Strategic planning is the process of taking your long-term goals and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps. When creating a strategic plan, you can outline the overall goal you hope to achieve as well as the specific steps you might take to get there in writing. This enables you to set short-term goals that you can achieve soon, which raises your chances of succeeding.
For instance, if you’re overseeing a project for a client, you might outline each step that you and other team members must take. You move the project forward by one step each time an employee completes their assigned task.
What is strategic thinking?
The process of visualizing your career goals through strategic thinking You can usually decide what you want to accomplish with your career and how you want to go about doing it. Additionally, you can use strategic thinking to enhance specific procedures, make more informed choices, or overcome difficult problems. This way of thinking enables you to take into account the potential benefits or negative effects that might result from a particular action or decision in the long run.
When acting strategically in your role, you can develop potential approaches or strategies to use for forthcoming projects. After that, you can calculate and assess each project’s potential long-term results. This enables you to select a strategy that might produce the best outcomes for you.
Strategic thinking vs. strategic planning
You can use strategic thinking to plan out your overall goals when using both of these methods in the workplace, and you can use your strategic planning skills to successfully carry out these goals. This enables you to combine both of these techniques for the most significant effects. Common differences between strategic thinking and strategic planning include:
1. Skills
You can usually use your more creative abilities when strategic thinking because it involves creating novel and innovative ideas or objectives. These inventive skills are frequently put to use in developing original responses to typical business problems or strategies for differentiating a brand or product from rivals. Your ability to see a long-term solution and work toward it is enhanced by using these creative abilities. Common skills youd use with strategic thinking include:
Developing action items during strategic planning requires the use of critical thinking abilities. This enables you to establish a clear path leading to the goal you’ve set for yourself. It is simpler for you to create a list of tasks to complete if you have these project management skills. Then, you can use your determination, drive, and self-control to complete all of the tasks before the deadlines are up. Common skills youd use when strategically planning include:
2. Activities
You can engage in a variety of activities when conducting strategic thinking and planning. When using strategic thinking, you typically take some time to determine the kinds of goals you hope to accomplish. This makes it possible for you to complete higher-level tasks like research, coming up with various alternatives to different plans, or performing a root cause analysis to identify potential causes or issues that might arise when choosing a particular career path.
When conducting strategic planning, the tasks or activities you might carry out at work can be more precise and thorough. It enables you to set achievable goals that lead to the results you want. This can entail establishing a schedule, making a to-do list, and coming up with preventative measures for any problems that might crop up as you work toward your long-term objectives.
3. Timeline
Strategic planning usually comes before strategic thinking because you frequently need long-term goals before you can create specific strategies to accomplish each goal. By routinely generating fresh concepts or potential solutions to problems, you can strategically think. Try to capture any potential ideas you have in writing. You can put these concepts away and create a strategic plan later, when you have the time and capacity to do so.
Strategic planning often follows a stricter timeline than strategic thinking. It’s frequently more effective to establish a set timeline for when you may complete these tasks because meeting your end deadline typically requires you to complete specific task items. Giving each item on your to-do list a due date makes you accountable for completing it, which improves your chances of achieving your ultimate objective.
4. Objective length
Strategic thinking allows you to build long-term goals for yourself. Depending on the nature and difficulty of the goal you choose, a long-term goal may last anything from a few months to several years. Long-term objectives are frequently more ambitious ones that you can consistently work toward by creating more manageable plans to accomplish them. Common long-term objectives you can accomplish through strategic thinking include rising to the position of thought-leader in your field, getting promoted, or obtaining a certification.
Strategic planning typically comprises smaller, short-term goals. You can reach these milestones to advance toward a more important long-term objective. Depending on the difficulty and your availability, you can aim to complete these tasks within a day, week, or month. Some common short-term objectives you could set for yourself are to complete a weekly quota, read more trade publications, or pick up a new skill.
The Difference Between Strategic Planning and Strategic Thinking
FAQ
What is the difference between planning and strategy?
Short-term and long-term goals: Plans usually place a strong emphasis on an organization’s long-term goals, which can frequently be achieved within the next three to five years. Strategies address impending or short-term objectives that may occur soon, typically within a year.
What is an example of strategic thinking?
Any abilities that help you use critical thinking to solve complex problems and make future plans are known as strategic thinking abilities. These abilities are crucial for achieving professional goals, overcoming obstacles, and dealing with challenges, especially if they are anticipated to take weeks, months, or even years to complete.
