Understanding strategic thinking Thu, 15 Oct

Councils are navigating relentless pressures – financial, political, demographic, technological, and more. This session helps you develop the strategic thinking skills to respond effectively in a constantly evolving environment.

Key outcomes

• A clear understanding of what strategic thinking is – and what it isn't.
• Practical tools to analyse how your organisation uses strategic thinking and explore future possibilities.
• A framework for developing shared vision, values and direction.
• Greater self-awareness of your own strategic thinking strengths and development areas.

This practical session explores what strategic thinking really means – and how to apply it in a local government context. We’ll cover:

• What strategic thinking is, and how it differs from strategic planning.
• The barriers that hold organisations back – and how to overcome them.
• Developing a strategic approach to change and the key drivers shaping local government today.
• Practical tools, including scenario planning, SWOT/PESTLE, and the Denison model.
• Vision, values and behaviours – what happens when they don't align.
• Building the eight key competencies of a strategic thinker.
• Organisational culture and why it matters for strategic success.

Who should attend

This session is designed for local authority officers and managers who want to develop a more strategic outlook. It is ideal whether you're looking to contribute more effectively to your organisation's direction, lead change, or just move beyond day-to-day firefighting to think about what comes next.