Page 30 - Twenty Four Lessons for Mastering Your New Role

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React to events

Think strategically

The past decade has introduced the term “knowledge worker” to
the workplace. That likely makes you a “knowledge manager.”
Employees at all levels are expected to think—to propose ideas
and streamline production or customer service so the organization
runs better. As a manager, your role is to devise strategic plans and
communicate them dynamically to your team. These plans provide
goals and direction for how you and your employees can effectively
do your work for the organization.
Thinking strategically is a learned skill. You develop strategic
savvy by asking smart questions, digging for answers, and looking
past assumptions or “truths” that limit your perspective.
You’ve probably never given much thought to your strategic
thinking prowess. It’s not an easy-to-evaluate skill, like typing or writ-
ing memos. But now that you’re a manager, you must demonstrate
your ability to think outside the box and attack challenges with intel-
lectual vigor.
Your bosses will judge you in part on how well you analyze busi-
ness problems and present creative solutions. They did not climb the
ladder by accepting conventional wisdom blindly. By sharing your
knowledge and learning from experience, you will impress higher-
ups as a strategic whiz.
You need to tap the full range of your intelligence—and the
brain power of your staff—to maximize your contribution. Get in the
habit of asking penetrating questions of your staff and giving them

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