Strategic Thinking Mindset

Strategic Thinking Mindset — Three Components (Flexibility, Inclusiveness, Humility)

All Levels Adopt Mindset

All Levels Adopt

Airmen at ALL levels should adopt a strategic thinking mindset as they approach issues within their organization.

What Strategy Sets

Strategy Sets

Strategy sets:

Priorities
Goals
Objectives
Key performance indicators (metrics/measures)

…that are aligned from the lowest echelon to the highest, and ensures all Airmen are marching down the same Path, toward the same Target.

When Performance Falls Short

Performance Gap CI Methods

When the current state of performance is not reaching the target level, continuous improvement methods may be used to address identified issues, such as:

Lean
Six Sigma
Theory of Constraints

CI References

Refer to:

DoDI 5010.42, *DoD-Wide Continuous Process Improvement (CPI)/Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Program*
DoDI 5010.43, *Implementation and Management of the DoD-Wide Continuous Process Improvement/Lean Six Sigma (CPI/LSS) Program*

…for more on improvement methods to ensure a culture based in strategic mindsets.

Three Mindset Components

3 Strategic Mindset Components

The three fundamental components of a strategic thinking mindset:

Intellectual Flexibility
Intellectual Inclusiveness
Intellectual Humility

Intellectual Flexibility

Intellectual Flexibility Definition

A willingness and proclivity to adjust one's understanding, opinions, or approach when:

Conditions change
New information is presented

Bend, Don't Break

Bend Don't Break

Flexibility is about bending, NOT breaking; we can adapt and adjust without abandoning long-term strategy and starting from scratch.

Flexibility Example

Imagine a request for members of your unit to receive critical training is denied for budgetary reasons. Rather than ignoring the need for training, or simply continuing attempts to get approval for the original request, consider other options:

Could just one Airman receive the training and then teach the rest of the unit?
Are there other units nearby whose members have received the training who would be available to teach your Airmen?

Intellectual Inclusiveness

Intellectual Inclusiveness Definition

Welcoming of information and opinion from a broad range of sources (individuals, groups, disciplines of study, etc.).

Many Voices

A broad, informed perspective often requires:

Many voices to be involved in a discussion
A willingness to consider new or seemingly unusual sources of information

Look Beyond Immediate Org

Look Beyond

Look beyond your immediate organization. Make use of:

Formal networks
Informal networks
Reach out to others with relevant expertise

Network Sources

Examples of network sources:

Peers from past assignments who have dealt with similar issues
Contacts within the other Services
Former instructors or classmates who could share relevant information and expertise

Intellectual Humility

Intellectual Humility Definition

Comfort level with:

Being wrong
Having an incomplete understanding

…accompanied by the tendency to check oneself, examining issues as if one's understanding is wrong in some way.