8) Use Mental Models
Why: Mental Models sharpen how you interpret information.
Across the hall, Luis, a senior strategist, made it his habit to apply mental models to every major decision. Rather than relying solely on past experience, he drew from frameworks like inversion, second-order thinking, and the Pareto Principle to dissect complex challenges.
For example, when faced with a market expansion dilemma, Luis used inversion by first asking how the plan could fail, then systematically addressing those risks.
His disciplined use of diverse models allowed him to uncover blind spots, anticipate outcomes, and communicate decisions clearly—earning a reputation for insightful, forward-thinking strategy.
Over time, this habit of applying mental models became central to his effectiveness as a strategic leader, inspiring others to think more broadly and act more deliberately.
