Think Smart for Peak Performance
In all times, and even more so during our current economic climate, whatever it is you want to achieve, your foundation stone towards success or failure will be the quality of the thinking you put into it. Improving your thinking does improve your business.
Making Sense = Making Cents
While this might seem obvious, very few organisations or businesses tend to really examine their thought processes in a clear and critical way. However, it is by examining our thinking now, that we make it work for us in the future. Let me give you two examples of the effectiveness of clear and critical thinking. One is about finding innovation in old ideas, the other relates to successful change management.
INNOVATION - Given all the current hype about innovation and the necessity for new ideas, many companies may recognise that the likelihood of stumbling – intentionally or not – on a silver bullet for success is very unlikely. It is far more probable that refining existing products, services or ideas will lead to economic vitality and success. These small or ‘incremental innovations’ can evolve from the simple fine tuning of smart thinking skills we use in our everyday working lives. Take the example of Mars, the chocolate makers. According to Dr. Mescon, a business lecturer at Atlanta University, “the Mars family recognised that the probability of introducing a new killer candy bar was less than likely. So, in the model of “incremental innovation” they launched a national campaign to select a new colour for M&M chocolates. It was a stroke of genius, M & Ms gained huge profile and all customers were involved in selecting the future colour of their product. Taking a good product and making it better is smart thinking at work – and leads to successful business in practice.
SUCCESSFUL CHANGE MANAGEMENT - In order to put smart thinking into operation, there are three very simple skills required. Let’s see this with the example that affects most organisations on a daily basis experience – that is, the issue of ‘Change’. The three thinking skills you need to bring about successful change are:
- Logic – The ability to see that change is required
- Imagination – The ability to bring about change in a way that is most productive and beneficial for the company and your customers
- Clear Focus – The ability to separate passion from emotion
Passionate people focus on getting their projects done. When we are emotional we tend to focus on our identity with the project (our Ego) and not the project itself. To get things done, it is essential to be passionate, and not emotional.
IMPROVMENT - These three skills are the basis of all directed-action thought processes. Improving them means success at improving many aspects of your business., e.g. improving the quality of your services, increasing market share, developing new products and satisfying customers faster than competitors. However, a note of caution. A serious stumbling block to putting this thinking into action is to be seduced by your own logic. Not everyone will think the same as you, so try to imagine you are the person who has to listen to what you are saying.
- How do you feel?
- Are you fired up?
- Does it sound plausible?
When people put forward ideas to me I look for the DNA print of their idea (Desire – Need - Action). If you think about it, in order to exist WE must have a DNA print. The same applies to your ideas. When ideas are written up on the wall or flipchart, they are just desires. Remember, in order to turn that Desire into reality there must be a Need for it and Action must be taken to get it done. When we realise this, we will understand that thinking is our very own personalised ‘tool kit’ and we can use it to create an innovative, successful and secure tomorrow. © Valerie Pierce 2009
Valerie Pierce is a philosopher, author and training consultant, based in Dublin and working in Ireland, UK & Europe. She has been rated as one of the 50 most influential women in Irish Business (Sunday Tribune). For more information see her website www.clearcriticalthinking.com