Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking with Michael Watkins

Introduction

• Guest: Michael Watkins
• Title: Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD Business School
• Notable Works: "The First 90 Days", "The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking"
• Recent Achievement: Inducted into the Thinkers 50 Hall of Fame
• Focus of Discussion: Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking and developing strategic thinking ability

Michael Watkins' Background

• Author of several bestsellers including "The First 90 Days"
• New Book: "The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking"
• Background in Consulting and Coaching, particularly with leaders taking new roles
• Observations on Strategic Thinking from his work with different leaders

Importance of Strategic Thinking

• Distinguished from operational and tactical skills
• Vital for recognizing emerging challenges and opportunities
• Crucial in today's turbulent times
• Analogies with strategic thinking in chess

Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking

1. Pattern Recognition

• Ability to detect emerging trends and signals in a noisy environment
• Example: Recognizing recurring patterns in chess
• Analogy: Playing many games, studying famous games, learning from masters
• Immersing oneself in the domain, learning from mentors

2. Systems Perspective

• Understanding the interconnectedness of various elements
• Building simplified models to predict outcomes
• Importance of recognizing tipping points, feedback loops
• Related frameworks: Peter Senge’s Systems Thinking, Causality

3. Mental Agility

• Chess Master Skills: Look forward a few moves, consider different possible outcomes
• Concept of backward induction from Game Theory
• Importance of level shifting: Moving between strategic (cloud) and operational (ground) levels
• Ability to adapt mentally to different scales of analysis

4. Structured Problem Solving

• Facilitating collective problem framing and solving
• Important for mobilizing a team towards a common goal

5. Visioning

• Imagining desirable future states and planning backwards
• Mobilizing energy and enthusiasm within the organization to work towards a common vision

6. Political Savvy

• Navigating organizational politics effectively
• Building alliances, accessing resources
• Example: CEOs who can masterfully craft deals and navigate stakeholder agendas

Developing Strategic Thinking Ability

• Exercises to develop pattern recognition and systems perspective
• Importance of immersion, learning from mentors, playing strategy games like chess

Conclusion

• Strategic thinking is crucial for effective leadership and organizational success
• The six disciplines provide a roadmap to improve strategic thinking ability

Additional Resources

• Michael Watkins' books: "The First 90 Days", "The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking"
• Related frameworks: Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline, Chess strategy resources
• Programs like Foresight Certification courses for structured learning

Next Steps

• Continual learning and practicing of the six disciplines
• Engaging in leadership development programs and strategic exercises
• Reading and learning from strategic thinkers and their works