Think Like a Strategic Leader: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills for 2026 (Day 9 - The 12 Days of Leadership)

Day 9 of The 12 Days of Leadership

Think Like a Strategic Leader: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills for 2026

Are you ready to move from doing the work to leading the work? In today’s episode of the 12 Days of Leadership, we’re diving into one of the most important — and most requested — leadership skills: strategic thinking.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in task mode, overwhelmed by constant decision-making, or unsure how to elevate your mindset as a new or aspiring leader, this episode is for you. We're breaking down the core habits, mindsets, and frameworks that help high-performance managers, clinical leaders, and directors think more strategically in complex, fast-paced environments.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ How to shift from reactive to proactive leadership ✨ Critical thinking strategies to improve decision-making ✨ The difference between operational thinking vs. strategic thinking ✨ How to build your “elevated view” as a leader ✨ Kayla’s Director-Era story on stepping out of the weeds ✨ A simple framework to evaluate priorities, choose the right projects, and stay focused ✨ How strategic leaders create clarity, calm, and momentum for themselves and their teams

Whether you're a new manager, a seasoned healthcare professional, or a leader preparing for your next role, these skills will help you increase your influence, improve outcomes, and operate at a higher level.

This is your invitation to step confidently into your next leadership chapter — one rooted in clarity, vision, and intention.

🔑 Keywords: strategic thinking for leaders, how to think like a leader, leadership mindset shift, critical thinking at work, decision-making skills for managers, strategic leadership healthcare, leadership growth, becoming a strategic leader, proactive leadership skills, how to stop being reactive at work

PLUS — if you’re ready to build systems, habits, and routines that support your strategic leadership, enrollment for The Organized Leader Sprint is opening soon! Stay tuned for details.

✨Ready to build systems, habits, and routines that support your strategic leadership? Enrollment for The Organized Leader Sprint is open NOW through December 16th, 2025 — your step-by-step path to organization, clarity, and confident, proactive leadership in 2026.

Sign up here➡️ https://www.kfaconsulting.org/sprint

 

✨ Join the Get Organized at Work Podcast Community for deeper conversations, leadership support, and daily inspiration during the 12 Days of Leadership. Linked here ➡️📱Join My Free Podcast Community for Professionals

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NMDP Fundraiser:

Donate to my NMDP Fundraiser as I run the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in June 2026 during Grandma's Marathon Weekend: https://fundraise.nmdp.org/participants/Kayla-Fahey-Ahrndt

 

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5. Donate to my NMDP Fundraiser as I run the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in June 2026 during Grandma's Marathon Weekend: https://fundraise.nmdp.org/participants/Kayla-Fahey-Ahrndt

 

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