Strategic decisions impact areas outside your own functional area, business unit, or even the organization. You expect your team to work hard and produce quality results, so roll up your sleeves and join them. Be sure to have sessions or days where you encourage ideas about innovating around your strategy, and give some of the ideas the resources they need to be tested or expanded. Adapt your strategic leadership style to fit your role, your company, and your working situation. Looking to create a strategic reporting policy? A relationship with another industry or organisation that they don’t have? SauteePan-Strategic leadership characteristics include the ability to develop big picture thinking and develop strategic vision. To recap, effective, good strategic leaders are strong communicators, active listeners, passionate, positive, innovative, collaborative, honest, diplomatic, empathetic, and humble. This means recognizing you don’t know everything and some of the best strategies have flaws. strategic leadership is the thinking and decision making required to develop and effect the plan. How Effective Leaders Apply Strategic Thinking. Being forthright about your successes, failures, and reasoning for choosing certain strategies and goals over others will earn the respect of your team. If you’re connected to your team and genuinely interested in collaborating with them, they will know what you’re thinking and vice versa. Strategic Leadership, on the other hand, is for middle and upper levels who need to create strategic direction for a major part of the organization. The Role of Strategic Leader Stands out in 3 Ways: Strategic leadership is broad in scope. Enthusiasm for your mission or project will get others excited because they can see and feel your dedication. Strategic leadership is learned—it does not come naturally. When you truly understand what it takes to execute a strategy—the skills, resources, projects, and more—you’re able to set more realistic goals and timelines. Advantage must be produced and sustained by the organization. In this all-inclusive free guide, you’ll find all the details of a comprehensive strategic planning process, tips to help you apply the information to your own reporting guide, and ways you can implement this information in ClearPoint. Positivity can take many forms in the workplace—from providing snacks in the communal kitchen to keeping an upbeat tone in your internal emails. Either she will understand the risk that must be mitigated or she will understand the opportunity that must be taken – and execute appropriate strategies in response. It’s not about popularity, but rather about integrity. e Strategic thinking is defined as a mental or thinking process applied by an individual in the context of achieving a goal or set of goals in a game or other endeavor. When you’ve been working at a company for years, or simply been in the same career for a while, it’s easy to get stuck. A leader who practices the art of listening gains the knowledge needed to solve problems, improve products or services, and build a strong company culture. He believes that those results can be delivered if only he and his team think about it cleverly and execute their strategy diligently. Strategic leaders must be adept at finding common ground and achieving buy-in among stakeholders who have disparate views and agendas. Being empathetic doesn’t mean you’re the organization’s resident therapist. They are not training up the next generation of leaders to take over after current workers retire. Leaders must be adept at recognizing themes, trends, and data applications and envisioning big ideas. Is it a skill? Express your vision clearly and then make yourself accessible to discuss anything going on in the office. The modern workplace has a major issue with leadership succession and strategy implementation: 1. Within the space of a quarter, you may have to tell employees both that you’re over budget and need to cancel initiatives, and that you outpaced benchmarks and are leading the industry in specific metrics. Commitment is the ability to stay focused on what will make you successful. This is the meeting point between being strategic and operational – the strategic thinker changes what he does operationally in order to ensure the execution of the strategy. By understanding some of the components involved, a leader can begin to create conversations around critical issues and foster a shared understanding of who we are, where we are going, and how we’ll get there. Honesty is always the best policy, but strategic leadership often requires you to be tactful. I think it is that the strategic thinker most frequently looks into the future and has an awareness of things in the present that could bring about change in the future. However, if you are not naturally future-oriented then you have to learn the skill and establish the discipline. Strategic thinking is the discipline of noticing and responding to potential game-changers in order to have the advantage even in an uncertain and chaotic business environment. Try our Executive Dashboard and become an expert. The strategic thinker recognises the risk of not knowing, and will wrestle with the issue until she does understand – and when she understands, she will act on the basis of this understanding. This requires active outreach. 2004) as three types of wisdom: As Mark Twain said, “Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have rather talked.” Listening seems deceptively simple, but it can be difficult to pause in the middle of your busy day to sit with an employee or quietly tune in from the sidelines of a strategic planning meeting. Having a collaborative approach to leadership is powerful because it naturally creates transparency in your organization. Creative ability to … Empathetic leaders gain the respect of employees and are more likely to successfully execute the organization’s strategies because they know exactly what it takes to get the job done. The importance of strategic thinking Developing and implementing a strategy is an important part of digital and design leadership. Team motivation significantly increases when people see their boss working alongside them, putting in the same level of effort (or more) than everyone else. What you don’t know or understand can hurt you. How your leadership characteristics manifest depends on the company culture and existing frameworks, as well as your individual skills. Being a strong leader requires practicality and realism, but just as importantly it requires having an eye for innovation and the vision to execute on it. Be sure to give credit where it’s due—in public—so that others can see that you appreciate their contributions. Click To Tweet. What are they doing that is different from the other sales teams? Being empathetic doesn’t mean you’re the organization’s resident therapist. This behavior makes you more “human” and relatable; it’s also simply a best practice to empower and reward others instead of acting like the smartest person in the room (even if you are!). Show your colleagues that you respect their ideas and approach. In order to understand what the strategic framework looks like in action, you need to dissect it. Here are ten abilities that are central to using wisdom in strategic leadership. Something you’re born with? Strategic leaders gain their skill through practice, and practice requires a fair amount of autonomy. By making sound decisions based on data, no vision or innovation will be too far afield. Empathy. Do you have a sales team that really cooks? If your team is led and surrounded by happy and positive people, they will work harder and be happier themselves. Overall, strategic thinking is the first building block in operating strategically at all levels of the organization. Is it an ability to figure out how to get from where we are to where we want to be with theresources we have at our disposal? Strategic thinking is a key skill for leaders. Without a doubt, being an effective communicator is a top attribute of a strategic leader. Therefore, educating yourself about the characteristics you want to embody will help you become a better leader. 1901 N. Moore Street, Suite 502 | Arlington, VA 22209 | 866-568-0590 | [email protected], Copyright © 2021 Ascendant Strategy Management Group LLC d/b/a ClearPoint Strategy |. Collaboration leads to trust, and your team will be more likely to support your vision. By being open to learning and leaving your ego at the door, you’re poised to help your organization adapt and improve. From there, you can begin implementing this with bigger projects and initiatives. In the book, Becoming a Strategic Leader, Richard Hughes and Katherine Beatty define strategic thinking as “the collection, interpretation, generation, and 77 percentof organ… It could be pocket-size or wallet-size, or printed and put in a notebook. But you must also add commitment to the mix of strategic leadership qualities, because passion doesn’t always get the job done. 2. In fact, they’re rather neurotic. Wisdom in the context of strategic leadership is defined as the ability to take the right action at the right time. Strategic leadership is truly a mixture of skill, behaviors, and perspectives. You definitely want to be aware of issues (as no good leader has their head in the sand), but you must also take the time to recognize things that are going well with your strategy and celebrate successes. In addition, Strategic leadership development is critical for any leader. Remember that you may not be the most innovative person in the room—but you still need to foster innovation amongst your team. Strategic leaders are known for thinking ahead, preparing for succession, and implementing a strategy. Making this choice is strategic thinking in action. It means you try to understand your team’s problems by walking in their shoes and seeing things from their perspective. Furthermore, you need to examine the purpose of strategic leadership, as it can When you’re honest and transparent, it’s easier to get everyone on the same page and earn the trust of your employees and community when trying to achieve your strategic goals. Are you trying to realise a particular vision for your business? How can you please two department heads who both want ownership over a key initiative? How I work and why you should work with me, Coaching and Mentoring: Developing Managers as Coaches & Mentors, Figuring Out How to Reach the Promised Land, Defining the Challenge and Creating the Guiding Policy, Leadership is Exercised One Conversation at a Time, 5 Steps to Develop your Leadership Skills, Our small part in the fight against Corruption. Strategic leadership can also be defined as utilizing strategy in the management of employees. By taking the steps to embody these qualities, you're already becoming a better leader and can help move your team towards success! One way to improve collaboration is to create some small projects and put others in charge. We’ve done some deep thinking around strategic leadership here at ClearPoint, and these are the top ten characteristics we believe are critical to develop. I’ve made the point that the strategic thinker is disciplined and somewhat neurotic (in a good way). How could you do this? Following the motto of “honesty is the best policy” generates trust within your organization. - Strategic thinking is a valuable skill for everyone in an organization, but it becomes increasingly essential, as you ascend the ladder. strategic leadership would be based on a conceptualization of strategic intelligence which could be summarized (Davies, B.J. After you read through the top characteristics key for a good leader, take this free leadership self assessment to learn your own leadership strengths and weaknesses and receive a report breaking down each of your leadership competencies (it only takes 10-15 minutes to complete!). Could you replicate this system in your other sales teams? Congratulations—you’ve taken the first important step toward improving your strategic leadership skills by landing on this article. If this process runs smoothly, you can help keep your team on the right track toward strategic success! This will allow you to regularly ask your colleagues and employees where they fit in on the strategy and how they regularly contribute. When you show that hard work is being done on every level of the organization, you prove your commitment and earn the respect of your team as a leader. The strategic thinker will simply not accept that nobody knows what’s going on and nobody understands how this works. Of course there should be a balance between play time and productive time, but do your best to create a positive, supportive environment during the workday. The other side of the coin is that everyone who has leadership aspirations includes ‘strategic thinking skills’ … In other words, don’t get too comfortable. To sharpen that skill, you may want to sharpen your internal reporting process. We probably do quite a bit of strategic thinking in all aspects of our lives, but it's necessary to put it on a formal level in order to really take action. Strategic thinking is often looked upon as something that only certain people can do. The collaboration eventually led the duo to further explore the nature of strategic leadership and to the development of their new book, Leading with Strategic Thinking, released in April 2015. Different leadership approaches impact the vision and direction of growth and the potential success of … The first three principles of strategic leadership involve nontraditional but highly effective approaches to decision making, transparency, and innovation.1. It is a balance of science (e.g., data analytics) and art (e.g., curiosity). This is a potential game changer. All leaders, but particularly those beholden to regulatory compliance, should be clear about plans, progress, and results. Strategic thinking is about purpose, identity, values, and vision guiding the development and optimization of offerings, processes, and resources. One simple way to convey your passion and commitment is to lead by example. Humble leaders admit their mistakes, apologize when necessary, and always share credit. Strategic leaders need this kind of wisdom to successful foster school growth. What if your strategy team disagrees on how to measure a customer objective? Characteristics of a strategic leader include being open to change and “left-field” thoughts, because that is precisely what will give you a competitive advantage. Strategic focus is the most mystical and illusive leadership capability in the corporate world, but we need to better understand, define and develop what it means when we say our leaders need to be more strategic. You can pretty much bet that they have a system that they are using with relentless discipline, and this is why they produce results. Most leaders understand that a strategy is intended to bring an organization to a new and more advantageous position in its market. Use our proven guide as your road map. Has your division been asked to deliver a particularly challenging set of results – even impossibly challenging? Nimbly adjusting and adapting to current business or economic environments is a valuable skill to foster. In fact, you likely won't be promoted, and can't succeed as a leader without it. Soon you may find that everyone carries their own copy of the strategy map! If companies are struggling in these areas, then it would make sense to take a look at bringing in a strategic leader. The answer to that question helps an executive drive organizational strategy through various ways to maximize results in minimal time, maintain a bird’s-eye view of the big picture and ensure the team aligns its goals with those of the organization. Play the role of participant on the project instead of being a leader. People want to own what they help create. Strategic leadership refers to a manager’s potential to express a strategic vision for the organization, or a part of the organization, and to motivate and persuade others to acquire that vision. In short, one the red and yellow items in their scorecard. Distribute responsibility. Achieving that vision means that you need to decide where the business will dedicate energy and resources and where it will not. Demonstrating strategic thinking, on the other hand, requires that you are simultaneously a marketer, a salesperson, and a change agent. One of the most important characteristics of a leader is the ability to think strategically. Aside from the interpersonal benefits, empathy is also a practical tool. Is it the ability to envision a future different from the current situation? Strategic thinking and leadership have become some of the most fundamental elements which provide an organization with direction and vision. So what are … These strategic thinking skills are vital. Strategic Thinking–Defined Strategic thinking, according to the National Defense University, is a different way of approaching how we think. For example, a product team may need a certain amount of time to properly test the UX, or a sales team may need an updated CRM system to hit their revenue goals. Strategic thinking and operational thinking may seem like two separate planes of existence. A talent? As strategic thinking and strategic planning are often done in a group setting, it’s important to recognize the influence of “groupthink.” Groupthink occurs when there is a homogenous group of people with little influence from outside sources and a high level of pressure to conformity. In order to innovate you need to utilize data-driven decision making. Is there something going on in your business, your industry or the economy that you don’t understand? Editor’s note: Aaron K. Olson and B. Keith Simerson have co-taught MSLOC 431: Leading with Strategic Thinking since its inception in 2009. The notion that you are either strategic or operational is rubbish – a strategy that does not show up clearly in the way the business operates is nothing but a dream. Do you have a particular advantage over your competitors? Strategic planning, then, is the roadmap from where we are to where we want to be, the answer having appeared in our thinking process. 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