STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

Being a Strategic Leader

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Organization's ethical and value-based approach to leadership1

Organization's culture and values2

Emerging social concerns and expectations3

Strategic leadership demands4

Aligning strategy, culture and leadership5

Understand strategic leadership styles5

Relationship between strategic management and leadership5

Leadership styles, their impact on strategic decisions and their application6

Autocratic style of leadership6

Democratic leadership style7

Laissez-faire leadership style7

Impoverished leadership style8

Task Cantered leadership style9

Achievement of organisation involvement and objectives9

Developing culture10

Clear focus of the strategic leader11

Support and development for organizational direction11

Adaptation of leadership styles12

Conclusion12

References14

Being a Strategic Leader

Introduction

Remaining competitive is one of the biggest challenges for organizations today. This is because of the rapid pace in change, technological up gradation pressures, the increase in the level of ambiguity and uncertainty in the market and the complexity of the consumer market and business operational challenges. Hence, the organizations in today's change need more leaders than past. There is a need for them to bring more people on board and increase the scope of responsibilities for individual leaders. Becoming a leader requires the implementation of strategic leadership process that addresses the leaders at all levels of the organization (Himachali 2009, p. 15). There are three main objectives of strategic leadership, to make the organization resilient, adaptable and flexible. The paper discusses the concept of ethical and value-based approach to leadership, the different strategic management styles and developing an appropriate culture in the organization.

Organization's ethical and value-based approach to leadership

Value based leadership is about aligning the goals of the organization with the goals of the people in order to ensure integrity, quality and hence, productivity. Value based leadership is about paying attention to ethics and embedding the cultures and values in the organizational culture which are supportive of the organizations goals (Blakely 2002, p. 2). Hence, there are less number of conflicts because the values of the organization are believed by all who have to adhere to them. As per this approach to leadership, if each and every person in the organization behaves in an ethical manner and does the right thing at all times, then the organization will ultimately achieve its goals and strategic mission.

Organization's culture and values

Organizational culture is the amalgamation of values and practices that are followed in the organization. An organization culture is the product of the mission and values of the organization. It is this mission and values that tell the employees the reason for the existence of the organization. It gives them a direction as to where they want to be and how they can get there through the implementation of the values. An organization culture consists of the values that are written and communication and those that are unwritten and unpractised but are well understood (Freeman 2006, p. 2).

The stress on the right organizational culture stems from the fact it is the most powerful driver of success. The efforts made by the strategic leader will remain largely futile if they are not supported by culture. There are four key values such as collaboration, control, competence and ...