There have been a number of debates about what “smart thinking” truly means and how people can apply it correctly to their lives and business endeavors in order to achieve quick, positive results.
Some, of course, would argue that, in order to be a smart thinker, you have to be able to make all the decisions yourself, especially if you’re a business owner. However, as many have learned from their own experience (the hard way), you need to become thoroughly informed before making any type of decision – whether by reading up on it or listening to your own company’s experts.
Strategic and Practical Thinking
When it comes to elaborating on what “thinking smart” means, especially when talking about business endeavors, many are unable to explain the term.
The simplest explanation, however, has to do with planning your best strategy while keeping your goals and resources into perspective. This means that:
- You need to establish a practical goal or set of goals for whatever you want to achieve.
- Afterwards, you need to keep all resources into account and use them to the best of your ability. Just like you don’t dip your finger in ink to use it as a pen, don’t be deaf to the opinions of experts who have studied a particular aspect and may know a lot more about it than you.
- Timing is of the essence, so a clear boundary needs to be made between your work and leisure related activities.
- Use your time intelligently to broaden your view and learn more about the niche your company operates in.
- All distractions and activities that would hold you back from getting into the “zone” during the time you’ve allocated for your work or project need to be set aside.
Essentially, then, smart thinking simply refers to the ability to channel your thoughts in such a way that you can resolve current problems related to what you can or should actually do.
If, for artists, smart thinking might be related to their ability to refine their technique and connect to their creative side, for a business owner or an entrepreneur, the same principle applies, but to an entirely different set of mental tools and resources – namely, strategic, precise thinking and the ability to assimilate the correct information in order to properly outsource certain tasks and direct the work done by employees.
Adopt and Adapt
Of course, when following such a path, nothing is set in stone, and you will find, sometimes, that market trends shift, employees get sick and all manner of unforeseen events occur that will set you back on your work.
When this happens, the meaning of smart thinking shifts yet again, having to do with the ability to adapt to the current situation as quickly as possible.
As such, larger goals may become smaller and damage control may be needed, but, with the right dosage of adaptability and flexible thinking, you can contain any potential disaster that may be in store for the company.
To put it simply, then, you don’t really need to be an expert in all fields to think smart. All you really need is a small dose of awareness mixed with just the right amount of flexibility, confidence and a willingness to listen to others’ opinions.