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What is Strategic Leadership?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

Strategic leadership basically means using strategy in the management of workers. The main strategy usually employed is to motivate workers to take the initiative to improve their productive input into the company. Strategy involves thinking and planning, while leadership inspires others to take the appropriate action. This management model trains and encourages employees to best prepare the company for the future.

Leaders who are strategic are always looking ahead and analyzing the present in terms of preparation for what may come for the business. Awareness is a big part of this leadership style, but it must be followed up with well thought out action. Strategic leaders are adaptable and growth-oriented. They take responsibility for getting things done by training employees to think and act more effectively to achieve the best result possible for the company.

Leaders who are strategic use techniques that inspire and motivate employees.
Leaders who are strategic use techniques that inspire and motivate employees.

Productivity is a main goal of strategic leadership. It's not about merely increasing the amount of work done, however, but strategic productivity or working harder for reasons best for the company. Although the strategic style of leadership always keeps the best interests of the business in mind, it's also appreciative of employees' unique talents and efforts.

Strategic leaders use techniques that empower and motivate others, rather than bully employees.
Strategic leaders use techniques that empower and motivate others, rather than bully employees.

Strategic leaders use leadership techniques that empower and motivate rather than bully employees. Another goal is to create an environment in which employees anticipate the company's needs in relation to their own jobs. Employees in a workplace environment led by a strategic leader are encouraged to follow their own initiative. Leaders reward quality workers by promoting them and offering incentives to do well for the company.

Strategic leadership often looks for ways to combat productivity issues in the workplace.
Strategic leadership often looks for ways to combat productivity issues in the workplace.

When it doesn't make sense to promote an employee or initiate other changes, a strategic leader rethinks the situation rather than going through with a change. Strategy, or careful planning, before making any change in the company is absolutely crucial in this style of leadership. The philosophy behind the practice is to use strategy in every act of decision making. A more thoughtful management approach can lead to greater success in the workplace if many factors are considered before action is implemented.

A coaching style of leadership motivates workers to take the initiative to improve their productive input and influence the future of the company.
A coaching style of leadership motivates workers to take the initiative to improve their productive input and influence the future of the company.

Barking out orders to staff is certainly not a style that's conducive to a strategic type of leadership, and a coaching style of leading others is generally used instead. Strategic management realizes that employees have a potential that should be encouraged in a respectful, yet motivating way. Leaders look to retain good employees while also forecasting how the company can run even more efficiently in the future.

Discussion Comments

anon308659

What is the purpose of local government and the relationship to strategic leadership?

sneakers41

BrickBack-I know that Wharton Business School offers leadership seminars by invitation only. A friend of mine attended and she loved it. It was really about the best strategic organizational leadership seminar that she has ever attended.

BrickBack

SauteePan-Strategic leadership characteristics include the ability to develop big picture thinking and develop strategic vision.

Strategic business leadership really has to see how certain projects and the success of those projects leads to the vision of a company.

In addition, Strategic leadership development is critical for any leader. A leader not only has to evolve and constantly improve his or her leadership skills, but he or she also has to develop his team and select and develop a few that show leadership potential.

Strategic management leadership always develops his or her team so that they can make the company stronger. Promoting people from a particular group means that the leader properly developed his team and demonstrated effective strategic leadership skills.

SauteePan

Effective strategic leadership not only makes the best use of the employees, but allows each employee to be held accountable with measurable goals.

Leadership skills really are about motivating a team to actively produce and often superseding their goals. Usually these leaders bring out the best in people and often treat people with the upmost respect.

They intuitively know what motivates people and manage to get the best results. Often these leaders are so admired that the team will even come to the leaders defense should there be an outside threat.

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    • Leaders who are strategic use techniques that inspire and motivate employees.
      By: Monkey Business
      Leaders who are strategic use techniques that inspire and motivate employees.
    • Strategic leaders use techniques that empower and motivate others, rather than bully employees.
      By: Minerva Studio
      Strategic leaders use techniques that empower and motivate others, rather than bully employees.
    • Strategic leadership often looks for ways to combat productivity issues in the workplace.
      By: vladimirfloyd
      Strategic leadership often looks for ways to combat productivity issues in the workplace.
    • A coaching style of leadership motivates workers to take the initiative to improve their productive input and influence the future of the company.
      By: auremar
      A coaching style of leadership motivates workers to take the initiative to improve their productive input and influence the future of the company.