A couple of weeks ago I did a training for a group of state-wide leaders on “Critical Thinking & Decision-Making.” It was a great day filled with honest conversation and important insights.

And it got me thinking…about thinking.

Thinking is a vital to pushing back against the “tyranny of the urgent” so that the most important things don’t get overlooked. It’s also a useful tool for managing one’s reactivity.

Yet, so few leaders prioritize thinking.

This is a mistake that leadership expert John Maxwell has been speaking and writing about for years. In fact, Maxwell has identified the following “11 Keys to Successful Thinking”…

Big-Picture Thinking – Seeing the world beyond your own needs.

Focused Thinking – Removing mental clutter and distractions to reach full potential.

Creative Thinking – Breaking out of boundaries to create breakthroughs.

Shared Thinking – Working with others to build and compound results.

Reflective Thinking – Looking at the past to gain a better understanding of the future.

Questioning Popular Thinking – Challenging the status quo to find better ways.

Strategic Thinking – Planning ahead to reduce potential issues and maximize results.

Realistic Thinking – Building a solid foundation based on facts.

Possibility Thinking – Finding solutions to seemingly impossible problems.

Unselfish Thinking – Considering the needs of others to make a positive impact.

Bottom-Line Thinking – Focusing on the results that truly matter.

So, how’s your thinking?