LCP LCP LCP
Skip to content

Strategic thinking is always important; it’s a critical foundation skill for effective leaders. But in crucible leadership moments like the present, it has outsize importance. 

When rapid change is happening all around us, even the immediate future is wildly uncertain and the potential range of outcomes is vast. This is when strategic thinking is most needed. This is also when it can be most challenging to do. 

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

― Albert Einstein

Each day that the current pandemic crisis extends and evolves, it becomes more apparent that this is not going to be limited to a short-term event. This does not relieve us as leaders from having to make critical short-term decisions—in some cases to survive—but we must simultaneously make decisions that will impact the mid- and longer-term. While we have far from perfect information about the longer horizon, the decisions we make now could be literally “make or break” decisions for the long term. 

How can we manage this risk? We can look at the three most basic elements of strategic thinking, put them in the context of the current time, and ask ourselves a few key questions.  

The three key cognitive processes of strategic thinking are Scan/Frame/Challenge:

  • When we scan, we gather information from a range of sources to gain insight and perspective and, ideally, make better decisions.

  • We frame when we organize and focus that scanned data on an issue, option or decision. Our brains are constantly putting data into frames based on context and experience. We cannot help it.

  • To challenge our own thinking is what comes least naturally. While our brains scan and frame naturally, to challenge requires conscious effort—or outside influence from people or events.     

Strategic thinking is inherently an iterative process, but we tend to naturally think of the sequence as scan-frame-challenge. Whatever our thinking before now, in the wake of the pandemic we are experiencing a massive challenge to our assumptions. This is calling for us to rapidly re-Frame our thinking about the issues, options, and decisions at hand. In order to do this, we must, in turn, think carefully about the data we now scan and be conscious about how it informs the frames we create to make decisions. 

image-45

So how can you put this to work? In the context of one of your present challenges, ask yourself these questions:

* SCAN *

  • What data are you looking at now? Do you need to consciously change your “feed”? Are you looking broadly enough? Consider the scanning tool below.

  • What connections or themes are you seeing? Is a new trend beginning to form? Do others see the same?

    image-46

* FRAME *

  • What issues, decisions, and options need to now be revisited—or newly considered? 

  • Can you be more conscious of the frame you are choosing—and make that thinking more visible to others?

  • Are you actively seeking to understand the frames of those around you?

* CHALLENGE *

  • How are your assumptions about the present and future impacting your frame?

  • Do you have multiple frames for multiple time horizons?

  • Have you created different planning scenarios for different frames?

  • What if something totally different happens?

The biggest trap in times of disruption may be in not challenging our thinking and assumptions in the face of rapidly evolving new realities. We may have to let go of long-held assumptions and beliefs as we emerge from COVID … or not. How we stay on top of this and make choices over the coming days and months will impact business for many of us more than any decisions we have made in our career. Being conscious about our thinking, our assumptions, and the choices we make will make us better leaders and help us create the best possible outcomes.


For more in the Crucible Communication series, explore:

Subscribe to Our Blog

Let's Talk

We'd love to hear about your leadership development goals.

Leave Comment

Recent Posts

Insight Experience Named to 2025 Inc. Regionals-featured-image
Insight Experience Named to 2025 Inc. Regionals
Click to view Insight Experience Named to 2025 Inc. Regionals

We’re proud to share that Insight Experience has been named to the 2025 Inc. Regionals: Northeast list,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Leadership Confidence: Women Deserve Better Than Imposter Syndrome-featured-image
Leadership Confidence: Women Deserve Better Than Imposter Syndrome
Click to view Leadership Confidence: Women Deserve Better Than Imposter Syndrome

Leadership development is about equipping people with the skills, mindset, and confidence to succeed. Yet,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
The Strategic Leader's Guide to AI: Adoption & Governance-featured-image
The Strategic Leader's Guide to AI: Adoption & Governance
Click to view The Strategic Leader's Guide to AI: Adoption & Governance

In the first post of this series, "The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption," we explored Level 1,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption-featured-image
The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption
Click to view The Leadership Imperative: AI Literacy & Adoption

I recently attended a leadership development conference, and every session that mentioned AI was packed—often...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Your Guide to Bringing Strategic Leadership to Life, Part 3-featured-image
Your Guide to Bringing Strategic Leadership to Life, Part 3
Click to view Your Guide to Bringing Strategic Leadership to Life, Part 3

At the close of a successful leadership development program, energy is high. The call to action was clear....

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Practical Tips for New Leaders: Working with Senior Leaders-featured-image
Practical Tips for New Leaders: Working with Senior Leaders
Click to view Practical Tips for New Leaders: Working with Senior Leaders

Note: This is the second post in the Practical Tips for New Leaders series. Head here for tips on running...

Category:-  Featured , Developing New Leaders

Learn More Click to view blog post
How Business Simulations Build Leadership Mindsets That Last-featured-image
How Business Simulations Build Leadership Mindsets That Last
Click to view How Business Simulations Build Leadership Mindsets That Last

As we wrap up the first month of 2025, it’s a good time to check in on our leadership mental models. In a...

Category:-  Featured , Business Simulation

Learn More Click to view blog post
5 Signs Your Organization Needs Strategy Execution Training-featured-image
5 Signs Your Organization Needs Strategy Execution Training
Click to view 5 Signs Your Organization Needs Strategy Execution Training

Every organization wants to operate at its peak, but even the best-run companies encounter challenges that...

Category:-  Featured , Executing Strategy

Learn More Click to view blog post
Top 10 Leadership Insights of the Year: Our Most-Read Blog Posts-featured-image
Top 10 Leadership Insights of the Year: Our Most-Read Blog Posts
Click to view Top 10 Leadership Insights of the Year: Our Most-Read Blog Posts

As the year comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the blog posts that captured the most attention and...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post
Mastering Leadership Presence: Building Trust Through Authenticity-featured-image
Mastering Leadership Presence: Building Trust Through Authenticity
Click to view Mastering Leadership Presence: Building Trust Through Authenticity

Imagine you’re in the audience at an all-hands meeting. Your company has big news: an acquisition, a merger,...

Category:-  Featured , Leadership

Learn More Click to view blog post