Thinking is one of the most valuable skills in modern business

It is the basis of all problem solving, is critical for risk assessment, and enables business to grow with confidence about the future.

As businesses shed many of the old constraints, the need for Good Thinkers (see panel) is growing all the time.

New structures and modern ways of working depend on having people who can assess problems properly and devise solution that get the most effective result.

Indeed, they are essential if companies are to be able to further empower and trust their people. It is no longer practical for wisdom to come from only senior staff. It doesn’t work that way any more.

Thinkers are people who can identify the root cause of a problem or opportunity then construct a solution that is both appropriate and effective while balancing the facts they have at their disposal, what has gone on in the past and what is known and what can be reasonably surmised about the future. To coin a well abused phrase, they are people who make the effort to 'Think out of the box'.

“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get the same result”

The best Thinkers train themselves to think clearly under pressure and can accept that available information will normally be limited. They are able to work with confusion, and can also operate at both the strategic and the detailed level. They also actively train themselves in positive thinking. It's a special skill, which is why it's so valued.

More and more businesses around the world now actively encourage people to take time out to think, because that enables the ‘what if’ questions to be asked and considered. That also usually results in a significant reduction in business risk.

Forward thinkers

Every problem or opportunity will have a set of alternative solutions. Thinkers are needed to assess which is the most effective and which carry the least risk and they need to create the time to do it. Like the best product development, the more time spent designing and assessing at the start the better the solution.

Businesses who encourage thinkers can move forward under their own steam, aware of upcoming risks; businesses who discourage or refuse thinkers can only ever react to circumstances and will be fighting fires for as long as they remain in existence.

“if you’re not sure where you’re going, you’re liable to end up somewhere else—and not even know it”

Of course, as technology opens up new opportunities at an increasing rate, the role of the thinker in any forward looking organisation is becoming more and more ecritical to survival.

Why are thinkers so valuable?

Because they recognise there is always more than one solution
Because they mitigate risk
Because they provide leadership and identify a way ahead
Because they take responsibility
Because they are actually quite rare

Develop your skills. Enjoy the journey!