Leadership - Strategy - part of leadership
Strategy - part of leadership
Key levels
If you don’t develop an overall strategy for leadership it is likely to be weaker than it might be.
Leadership is required at all levels of management the key areas will be:
Strategic level
This is the key area at the top. Leadership here will influence strategy with the vision, which in turn will be translated into various goals for the operational leaders down at the next level.
At this level, apart from considering vision and strategic planning they will operate in other areas such as morale, stakeholders and at a political level.
As we have seen elsewhere [see Influence] leadership often requires specialist knowledge of an area to be truly effective.
If this is the case, it would be difficult to transfer from one organisation to another.
This reflects the situational approach.
In the case of leadership at the strategic level detailed technical knowledge is not a requirement.
It is thus easier for strategic leaders to transfer their skills elsewhere.
In the past famous military leaders have transferred from civilian into military leadership, for example, Oliver Cromwell.
Operational level
Key influencers in various main parts of the organisation who will translate the strategy to the next level down to the team.
Team level
The leader of a team of individuals who has direct responsibility for completing tasks in support of the company vision and goals.
Whilst, in practice, there may actually be many levels within an organisation the three above tend to be key and ever present.
Strategic thinking
Strategic thinking goes beyond today and covers a period of time in the future.
It should be aligned to your vision which is where you would like to be at that point in the future.
It is your strategy that will help formulate your plans to achieve the vision.
The period of time in which you set your vision will depend upon your circumstances.
Long term may be 10 years for one organisation or 1 year for another.
Anything shorter than this would normally be termed ‘tactics’ as a means of implementing your strategy.
Strategy should not be concerned with the minutiae, that should be left to others.
The higher levels should not concern themselves with detail that can be carried out quite easily at a lower level.
Quality leadership together with the correct structure will aid good and fast decision making.
In terms of leadership strategy it is a good idea to know what exists at the moment.
Carry out a review.
Leadership review
- Is there anything currently written down and if so does it seem to understand the purpose of leadership?
- Does the current system encourage training prior to taking up a leadership post?
- What is the history of costs both in terms of totals and cost per person?
- Are pre-course and post-course reviews carried out with follow ups 6 months later?
- Is there any mentoring or coaching in place or evidence for encouraging this?
- Is the focus at the upper level of management or the lower? Is it biased one way? Team leader development is probably better than at a higher level in terms of long term value.
- What sort of selection procedures are in place?
- Is there a succession plan?
Developing a leadership strategy may require a culture change for the organisation.
The organisation should create an atmosphere and systems which allow leadership to flourish.
If possible let your leaders make as many of their own decisions as possible.
As an organisation if you want to be the best you must develop your leaders.