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STRATEGIC THINKING FOR EX-1+ (G063)

Workshops > Complete List > Strategic Thinking

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

For public service executives, whether working in policy or programs, in functional communities such as communications or operations, complex and ambiguous situations are a constant in today's work environment. Responding to these situations strategically and innovatively requires deliberate approaches to creativity and the adoption of key creativity and thinking skills. Strategic thinking - balancing analysis with ideas - is one of four core competencies identified for executives in the Canada Public Service Agency's Leadership Framework, and Learning, Innovation and Change Management are among the key elements in the Treasury Board of Canada Management Accountability Framework.

Strategic thinking is a learned skill. You can learn how to flex your strategic thinking muscle so you and your staff can respond more innovatively to the challenges of your work environment and achieve results. By attending this workshop, you will gain insight into your personal thinking preferences and how you engage in the innovation process through the in session administration of the FourSight Breakthrough Thinking ProfileT. Additional takeaways include "thinker toys", a learner guide with an entire suite of strategic thinking tools you can use with your team, and a bibliography of helpful resources and references to further your learning.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

The benefits and impacts of personal thinking preferences on strategic thinking and problem solving.
The link between strategic thinking, creative problem solving and innovation.
How to identify situations that would benefit from strategic thinking, creative problem solving and innovation processes.
How to foster strategic thinking in your workplace.
The importance of phrasing challenges and questions and avoiding premature evaluation.
How brainstorming failures short-circuit strategic results.
Guidelines for balancing analysis with ideas.
Strategic thinking tools that support more innovative results.
How to improve strategic planning and innovation initiatives.
How to build better teams and use the power of the group and a diversity of perspectives to create breakthrough ideas and insights.

Agenda
8:45 - 9:00	Participant Introductions and Workshop Overview
9:00 - 10:30	The Strategic Mind Set Participants will explore the significance of strategic thinking and how it relates to creative problem solving and innovation. In the process, behaviors that foster strategic thinking in the workplace and the importance of phrasing challenges as questions will be introduced.
10:30 - 10:45	Break
10:45 - 12:00	The Strategic Mind Set continued Participants will complete the FourSight Breakthrough Thinking ProfileT and engage in activities and discussions to understand individual thinking style preferences and the relationship and impact these have on innovation, and our ability to respond creatively and strategically to work challenges.
12:00 - 13:00	Lunch
13:00 - 14:30	The Strategic Tool Set Using the competency standards for balancing analysis with ideas as a jumping off point and a variety of interactive activities, participants will be introduced to the guidelines for creative problem solving and basic strategic thinking tools that support the entire creative thinking process.
14:30 - 14:45	Break
14:45 - 16:00	The Strategic Skill Set Using the concepts and tools introduced in the Strategic Mind Set and Tool Set, participants will work to address the challenge "in what ways might I encourage strategic thinking on my team?".
16:00 - 16:30	Taking it Forward, Wrap up and Workshop Evaluation Building on their learning from the entire day, participants will be encouraged to identify personal actions they can take to bring the Strategic Mind Set, Tool Set and Skill Set into practice.

Instructor

Janice Francisco

Janice Francisco is a CEC Associate and President of BridgePoint Effect, which she founded in 2001 to help managers and teams expand thinking and extend learning as they deal with the complexities of change and the challenges of communications in change contexts.

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