Ahead of the Curve: A Guide to Applied Strategic Thinking

People are discovering they are drowning in a sea of tactical activitiesand short-term operational demands. They find themselves left behind when the needs of their customers change. This book will show you how to allocate time and energy to think ahead, add value, and innovate for the future. It addresses the need to carve out time, learn to tame the operational beast, and get our strategic bearing in life.

Today, managers and individual contributors alike are redefining what it means to truly be successful. People are discovering that too much emphasis is placed on the now; winning and performing current roles and activities. Many people in the workplace have discovered that they are drowning under the weight of tactical activities and short-term operational demands. This book will show you how to allocate some time and energy to think ahead, add value, and innovate for the future. To be exceptional, we need to be effective at both strategy and execution. We need to be great today and prepared to be great tomorrow. This means that we have to carve out some time, learn to tame the operational beast, and get our strategic bearing in life.

Nearly all of the popular books, articles, and training focus on the grand strategic planning at the senior level. There is no question that many organizations have a need for high level corporate strategic planning. However, it is just as important to have everyone in the organization thinking strategically and applying these principles in their own world. If organizations want to be proactive and forward thinking, then its members at all levels will need to think about the future in entrepreneurial and innovative ways, especially in their individual areas of responsibility. The question is, how can team leaders, project managers, sales representatives, engineers, and others start thinking strategically? What skills are needed? How can one apply them at a practical level? How can organizations get their employees to be more innovative, look around corners, plan ahead, and bravely take on the future?

This book is for anyone who is looking for answers to these questions, for those who want to be on track, in control, and prepared for the future. Through real life experiences, illustrated examples, and straightforward activities and tools, Ahead of the Curve will enlighten readers; cause them to think, plan, and act more strategically at the individual level and on the front lines of work.

Customer Reviews:

Another excellent guide/resource to be added to your Strategic Thinking Bookshelf!

By Lee Say Keng "KNOWLEDGE ADVENTURER/TECHNOLOGY... - May 27, 2006

In the marketplace, there isn't much good books written from the personal strategic thinking standpoint. I can only recall one really good one, & that is, Choosing the Future: The Power of Strategic Thinking by Stuart Wells.

This particular one by the founders of Center for Management Organisation Effectiveness is one I have just recently come across. (The book is apparently based on their Applied Strategic Thinking workshop.) After perusing it, I find it to be an excellent guide/resource, which any interested reader can add to their Strategic Thinking Bookshelf.

Most strategic thinking books focus at the corporate planning &/or boardroom level. Big strategy. The grand plan. Nothing wrong with that. This particular one brings the concept & philosophy of strategic thinking down to the individually applied level, as well as the immediate team, at the front lines. The authors offer an interesting application model which combines 'strategic landscape' with 'strategic... read more

Applications for the real world - We should ALL be strategic thinkers

By Steve Nielsen - September 20, 2005

"Ahead of the Curve; A Guide to Applied Strategic Thinking" by Steven J. Stowell and Stephanie S. Mead is a book that provides excellent tools for team members and leaders at all levels and in any size organization to become more effective strategic thinkers. The authors bring in examples of people who have utilized strategic thinking effectively, which helps increase my ability to apply what I'm reading, making it real. The book reminds (or educates) us that strategic thinkers aren't, or shouldn't be, found only in company boardrooms but throughout every organization, team or group. The model shared in this book has been extremely helpful to me as I strive to make effective decisions in both the personal and professional areas of my life. The "strategic dashboard" element in one section of the model is a highlight and can provide guidance in one of the more challenging but highly impactful areas of thinking strategically, that being the ability to work on the right things or... read more

This book works!!!

By HMS "Personal Growth Advocate" - October 17, 2005

This book is for people who want to escape from the "activity trap" and start thinking strategically about all aspects of their lives. For me, the book's strength is its clear-cut, seven-step model for thinking, planning and acting strategically. The book contains a lot of practical examples that I found very beneficial. I believe "Ahead of the Curve" is intended for people who want to have greater success in the future.