Mastering the 3 Stages of Strategic Thinking with Dr. Julia Sloan & Charles Good | The Good Leadership Podcast #173

Today, we are joined by Dr. Julia Sloan. Dr. Sloan is the author of the definitive book, Learning to Think Strategically, (Best Business Book of the Year, Financial Times), and is widely recognized for her pioneering work on the application of complex cognitive theory to everyday global strategic thinking practice. Her work draws upon more than two decades of her own corporate experience in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe and North America. Julia teaches at Columbia University and has lectured at some of the premier academic institutions including: MIT, Harvard University, and Princeton University. In this episode, Dr. Sloan explains the distinction between strategic thinking and strategic planning, emphasizing the importance of divergent thinking and emotional factors. We explore her three-stage model of strategic thinking—preparation, experience, and reevaluation—highlighting the role of non-work experiences and critical reflection. The discussion also covers key tools like polarity thinking and the significance of shattering frames for strategic insight, with examples from companies like Apple, Tesla, Netflix, and more. - Website and live online programs: http://ims-online.com Blog: https://blog.ims-online.com/ Podcast: https://ims-online.com/podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesagood/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlesgood99 Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) Tip: Differentiating Strategic Thinking and Strategic Planning (05:03) Tool: The Three-Stage Model of Strategic Thinking (05:41) Tool: The Role of Emotions in Strategic Thinking (09:06) Tool: The Experience Phase (14:51) Tool: The Reevaluation Stage (18:28) Tool: Polarity Thinking (26:32) Tool: Shattering Frames for Strategic Insight