1. BIG-PICTURE THINKING (Acquire the wisdom of big-picture thinking)
Big-picture thinking is the ability to see what others see, what they’re missing, and how to navigate uncharted territory.
How does it work?
Big-picture thinking means taking stock of the bigger view in order to see potential obstacles and define possible outcomes. It’s the ability to practice what some experts call “scenario planning”–stepping back and taking in a global perspective, a discipline that industry leaders of all types use to navigate change and thrive with future markets.
Do it now:
Big-picture thinking asks questions that look at the past, present, and future. These five questions are a great starting place for a big-picture conversation with your team:
1. What doesn’t fit that we’re spending time and energy on?
2. What would someone outside of my challenge do if they were in charge?
3. Is the foundation of my business consistent with the strategy I’m implementing?
4. Do I fully understand why we do it that way?
5. What might be the long-term consequences?
Wise words on big-picture thinking:
“Our nation needs bridges, and bridges are built by those who look to the future and dedicate themselves to helping others. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future: It is you.” – Sandra Day O’Connor
2. CREATIVE THINKING (Discovering the joy of creative thinking)
Creative thinking is the ability to escape your “boxed-in” thinking and reimagine possible solutions.
How does it work?
Creative thinking increases the number and quality of solutions on the table.
Trying something new requires “out of the box” thinking. It requires us to choose possibility over fear and to think creatively. It also can be the difference between staying stuck in the past and moving into the future.
Now it’s your turn. What possibilities are waiting for you? Where can you start applying “out of the box” thinking.
Do it now:
Stop asking “Can I?” and start asking “How can I?” If a bankrupt airline turned its entire business around by introducing vreative thinking, what could it do for you?
Wise words on creative thinking:
“All meaningful and lasting change starts first in your imagination and then works its way out. Imagination is more important than knowledge.” –Albert Einstein
3. REALISTIC THINKING (Recognize the importance of realistic thinking)
Realistic thinking is the ability to recognize the facts and build certainty around them. It is the process by which you take your dream from wish to will.
How does it work?
Realistic thinking is fuel for driving results. These two actions can help:
1. Acknowledge the gap between where you are today and where you want to be in the future. Map your growth and the narrowing of the gap on a timeline to determine what is realistic.
2. Beware of linear thinking. When we’re talking about personal development, you can’t expect to see constant, uphill growth day after day, year over year. It’s a journey with a varying pace. That doesn’t mean you don’t challenge yourself. It means you remember to be patient when a season of growth requires more time or effort than you’d originally thought.
Do it now:
Require projections to be backed up with ownership. This will help you develop accountability with the outcomes you aim for and determine how realistic they are.
Wise words on realistic thinking:
“Idealism increases in direct proportion to one’s distance from the problem.” – John Galsworthy
4. STRATEGIC THINKING (Releasing the power of strategic thinking)
Strategic thinking is taking control of tomorrow by thinking about it today. Strategic people see the world as a web of interconnected ideas, and they find opportunities to advance their ideas by making connections early and often.
How does it work?
Strategic thinking contains five elements:
• Thinking consistently
• Thinking within context
• Thinking on the front end
• Thinking with others in mind
• Thinking with a return in mind
In order to think strategically, you must ask questions that:
1. Unlock and open doors that otherwise would remain closed.
2. Set you and others up for success.
3. Are a result of curiosity.
Strategic questions cause us to think things through and then follow things through. Try the questions below to kick-start your strategic thinking.
Do it now:
Take time to answer the following to elevate your strategic thinking:
1. What are our measurable wins?
2. How are we doing now?
3. What needs to get better?
Wise words on strategic thinking:
“My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.” – Peter Drucker
5. POSSIBILITY THINKING (Feel the energy of possibility thinking)
Possibility thinking is the ability to see solutions in seemingly impossible circumstances. It’s the lens you look through to take a positive stance in the midst of immanent failure and see opportunity.
How does it work?
Possibility thinking starts with developing a positive life stance. When your belief and approach to your everyday life is negative, it’s nearly impossible to see potential in people, circumstances or challenges.
Developing a positive life stance is an on-going practice. Here is John Maxwell’s mantra for remembering the power of a positive life stance:
1. Life is filled with good and bad.
2. Some of the good and bad I can’t control… it’s life.
3. Some of the good and bad will find me.
4. If I have a positive life stance, the good and bad will become better.
5. If I have a negative life stance, the good and bad will become worse.
6. Therefore, I choose a positive life stance.
Do it now:
Memorize the positive life stance mantra above or develop your own to begin shifting your thinking to see more and bigger possibilities.
Wise words on possibility thinking:
“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning.”– Mahatma Gandhi
6. REFLECTIVE THINKING (Embrace the lessons of reflective thinking)
Reflective thinking is the consistent art of evaluating experience to repeat successes and avoid repeating failures.
How does it work?
Consistently taking time daily, weekly, and annually to evaluate experiences and ask:
• What do I feel?
• What do I think?
• What do I know?
Do it now:
Make time at the end of every day for one week to answer these questions:
• What do I feel?
• What do I think?
• What do I know?
Wise words on reflective thinking:
“No one can produce great things who is not thoroughly sincere in dealing with himself.”
– James Russell Lowell
7. POPULAR THINKING (Question the acceptance of popular thinking)
Popular thinking is the acceptance of common “wisdom” without challenging assumptions or asking questions.
Uncommon thinking is the antidote to popular thinking.
How does it work?
Uncommon thinking requires asking questions, challenging norms, and being vigilant to the thoughts and beliefs you accept as true. It also requires a strong inner circle of trusted peers to provide feedback.
Most importantly, uncommon thinking requires becoming comfortable with not having all the answers.
Popular thinking traps:
1. “We’ve never done it this way before.”
2. “There is only one way to do it.”
3. “Average is good enough.”
4. “Wealth is bad.”
5. “I’m entitled to success.”
To avoid popular thinking traps, you must…
1. Become comfortable with being uncomfortable.
2. Seek out different voices.
3. Look at old things in new ways.
Do it now:
Make a list of the people who have the most influence over your thinking and decision making. Reflect on whether you feel they provide you with a differing voice that helps you avoid popular thinking.
Wise words on popular thinking:
“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from the old ones.”
– John Maynard Keynes
8. SHARED THINKING (Encourage participation in shared thinking)
Shared thinking is the intentional act of partnering with other people to take your ideas from good to great.
How does it work?
John Maxwell leverages shared thinking in a number of ways, but one of his most consistent practices is with his books. At the beginning stages of every book John writes, he assembles a team of people around a table, and he presents them with his thesis and rough chapter outline. Then, John turns the team loose to help him make the book better.
Why?
Because one person isn’t as smart as many people. That’s the value of shared thinking. It provides…
• Perspective – Others help you see what you can’t see on your own.
• Understanding – Others help you discover someone else’s experience.
• Teaching – Others help you lean into their expertise.
Do it now:
Consider this statement and make it a priority to approach problem solving and thinking with this in mind: “Everyone can teach me something.”
Wise words on shared thinking:
“One is too small a number to achieve significance. That is true in action and that is true in thinking.” – John C. Maxwell
9. UNSELFISH THINKING (Experience the satisfaction of unselfish thinking)
Unselfish thinking is the understanding that you cannot experience true significance without finding a way to give the value of your thoughts to others.
How does it work?
Unselfish thinking adds value, which means it’s a mindset to do whatever you can for someone that they simply cannot do for themselves. This can look like a myriad of things because what you have to offer to others is unique to you.
Do it now:
Look for one way to add value to one person every day.
Wise words on unselfish thinking:
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has a cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
10. BOTTOM-LINE THINKING (Enjoy the return of bottom-line thinking)
Bottom-Line Thinking is an intense focus on driving results.
How does it work?
Bottom-Line Thinking requires a dedication to targeted goals.
Your two most important bottom lines:
1. Add value to people.
2. Get a return on investment.
How do you add value to people and get a strong ROI?
1. Aim to be the best at one thing.
2. Build a team around being the best at that one thing.
Do it now:
Determine your two targets:
1. I can add value to people by…
2. I can get the greatest ROI by focusing on…
Wise words on bottom-line thinking:
“Everyone can be good once, but only a few people can over-deliver consistently.” – Mark Cole, CEO, John C. Maxwell Enterprise
11. FOCUSED THINKING (Unleash the potential of focused thinking)
Focused thinking is intensive concentration in order to gain clarity on the specifics of a challenge and reach the core of the problem.
How does it work?
Create a focused environment:
1. Verbalize and visualize—Say it and see it often.
2. Remove and remain—Pull away and stay away.
When we focus our thinking…
1. We tend to work on the right things.
2. We create less stress for our brain as it maintains only one thinking
pathway instead of several at one time.
3. We achieve presence of mind more often.
Do it now:
Consider this question for how you spend your focused time: Where do I need to give 100%?
John Maxwell identifies three areas where focus is required:
1. In your strengths
2. With key people
3. The main event
Wise words on focused thinking:
“The immature mind hops from one thing to another; the mature mind seeks to follow through.” – Harry A. Overstreet
HOW SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE THINK
JOHN C. MAXWELL
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