When are you thinking about?

We know time spent considering the complex problems we face as project and team leaders is critical, however, what if we spent more effort on when to think about so these problems never even arise in the first place?

The 70:20:10 Learning & Development Model is a well-established approach to optimising the learning experience. The result of decades of study and analysis, its strength lies in its simplicity; individuals obtain 70% of their knowledge by doing, 20% by being shown, and 10% by being taught.

What if we applied a similar strategy to when we think about? What if we chose to spend 70% of our time thinking about the future, 20% in the current, and 10% thinking about the past?

What would this mean for the teams and projects we lead if we’re regularly looking to the horizon and not constantly at our feet? An easier path to navigate? Less of the frantic, often reactive responses to a crisis? Greater opportunity to generate sustainable and winning strategies? More freedom to execute our plans? These are only the beginning.

Give yourself, your team, your sports club, your volunteer group, or your family the benefit of looking more toward the horizon by having a read of the 70:20:10 Model for Strategic Thinking worksheet below.

Free to download and share with people who you think would enjoy this simple approach to solving issues that don’t even exist yet.

Who in your network is constantly looking toward the horizon, scanning for obstacles so they can be avoided? Send them a shout-out by tagging them in a comment below or sharing on your Social Media feed.

We know feedback is a gift, so we’d love to hear any you have on the Worksheet – good, bad, or ugly; we can take it.


Churchill Infrastructure is an Australian-based Infrastructure Partner that offers over 23 years of experience bringing major road, rail, metro, tunnel, and oil & gas projects to life.

With expertise in all elements of the project life cycle, our team at Churchill Infrastructure thrives on the work others find too hard, and provide clients with experienced teams who are ‘doers’; selected not only for their professional skills and experience but who repeatedly demonstrate attitudes and behaviours aligning with our values.

If you’d like the peace that comes with knowing your team is filled with people who walk towards, not away from hard work, who relish solving impossible problems, and who actively generate forward momentum, contact us now via our Contact Page.

“Queen’s pawn to D-4”

Over these weeks and months, I’ve mentioned strategy, or strategic thinking, thinking 5 steps ahead, business being like chess, and not letting your ego cloud decisions at least a dozen times or more, but as I look back over the last 96 hours, I wonder if any of it is sinking in at all.

It’s too long and boring a story to explain the exact circumstances, but needless to say, had I spent more time thinking and planning, then I wouldn’t have been kicking myself the way I have been this morning.

Continue reading “Queen’s pawn to D-4”