through this process. Take a look at the following questions developed by my friend Bobb Biehl, the author of

Masterplanning.^8

Direction: What should we do next? Why?

Organization: Who is responsible for what? Who is responsible for whom? Do we have the right people

in the right places?

Cash: What is our projected income, expense, net? Can we afford it? How can we afford it?

Tracking: Are we on target?

Overall Evaluation: Are we achieving the quality we expect and demand of ourselves?

Refinement: How can we be more effective and more efficient (move toward the ideal)?

These may not be the only questions you need to ask to begin formulating a strategic plan, but they are
certainly a good start.

3. Strategic Thinking Prompts Customization

General George S. Patton observed, “Successful generals make plans to fit circumstances, but do not try to
create circumstances to fit plans.”
All good strategic thinkers are precise in their thinking. They try to match the strategy to the problem,
because strategy isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition. Sloppy or generalized thinking is an enemy of
achievement. The intention to customize in strate-gic thinking forces a person to go beyond vague ideas and
engage in specific ways to go after a task or problem. It sharpens the mind.

4. Strategic Thinking Prepares You Today for an Uncertain Tomorrow

Strategic thinking is the bridge that links where you are to where you want to be. It gives direction and cred-
ibil-ity today and increases your potential for success tomorrow. It is, as Mary Webb suggests, like saddling
your dreams before you ride them.

5. Strategic Thinking Reduces the Margin of Error

Any time you shoot from the hip or go into a totally reactive mode, you increase your margin for error. It’s like
a golfer stepping up to a golf ball and hitting it before lining up the shot. Misaligning a shot by just a few
degrees can send the ball a hundred yards off target. Strategic thinking, however, greatly reduces that margin
for error. It lines up your actions with your objectives, just as lining up a shot in golf helps you to put the ball
closer to the pin. The better aligned you are with your target, the better the odds that you will be going in the
right direction.

6. Strategic Thinking Gives You Influence with Others

One executive confided in another: “Our company has a short range plan and a long range plan. Our short
range plan is to stay afloat long enough to make it to our long range plan.” That’s hardly a strategy, yet that’s the
position where some business leaders put themselves. There’s more than one problem with neglecting
strategic thinking in that way. Not only does it fail to build the business, but it also loses the respect of everyone
involved with the business.
The one with the plan is the one with the power. It doesn’t matter in what kind of activity you’re involved.
Employees want to follow the business leader with a good business plan. Volunteers want to join the pastor with
a good ministry plan. Children want to be with the adult who has the well-thought-out vacation plan. If you
practice strategic thinking, others will listen to you and they will want to follow you. If you possess a position of
leadership in an organization, strategic thinking is essential.