Leading with Strategic Thinking
Four Ways Effective Leaders Gain Insight, Drive Change, and Get Results
1. Edition May 2015
320 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Short Description
Leading with Strategic Thinking helps you discover your personal strengths, and how they can be leveraged into an effective leadership style that drives strategy and improves outcomes. Eschewing the one-size-fits-all leadership model, this helpful guide outlines four general leadership styles and demonstrates how each style achieves success - whether through personal vision, structured processes, collaboration, or by empowering others. By exploring the multitude of factors that contribute to effective strategic planning and execution, this practical guide provides actionable advice and tools including checklists, templates, and more. Examples and case studies illustrate these concepts in action, and the provided reference materials steer readers toward more advanced information on this important topic.
* Discover the four types of strategic leadership
* Uncover your personal leadership style
* Integrate multiple expectations to sustainably drive strategy
* Overcome challenges with practical tools and techniques
Leading with Strategic Thinking gives you the tools you need to start now.
Be a more effective leader with strategic thinking
Leading with Strategic Thinking reveals what effective leaders do differently. Eschewing the one-size-fits-all leadership model, this helpful guide outlines four general leadership types and demonstrates how each type achieves success - whether through personal vision, structured process, collaboration, or by empowering others. The authors identify the actions and skills that distinguish strategic leadership, drawn from interviews and focus groups with over three hundred leaders from around the world. Examples and case studies illustrate these concepts in action, and the provided reference materials steer readers toward more advanced information on this important topic.
The disruptive forces of technology and globalization raise new challenges for leaders. This book is a manual that will help executives and aspiring leaders harness these forces and address the two central questions of strategic leadership:
* How do the best leaders develop their strategy?
* How do effective leaders drive strategic change?
Becoming a strategic leader isn't about mimicking an icon. The most effective leaders seize opportunity in a way that consciously integrates environmental requirements, stakeholder expectations, and personal ability. Leading with Strategic Thinking shows what these leaders do, and gives anyone the tools to be a more strategic leader.
Preface xv
Introduction xxi
Issues and Considerations xxi
Fundamental Questions xxv
Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Strategic Thinking and Leadership 1
The Nature of Strategic Thinking 1
The Art of Leadership 22
Chapter 2 The Four Types of Strategic Leadership 47
The Visionary Type: Driving Strategy through Personal Insight 55
The Directive Type: Driving Strategy through Structure and Process 71
The Incubating Type: Driving Strategy through Empowering Others 84
The Collaborative Type: Driving Strategy through Cocreation 99
Chapter 3 Examples of Strategic Leadership 117
Indiegogo 118
P&G's Latin American Merger with Gillette 130
Design for America 141
Google Takeout 149
Chapter 4 Applying Strategic Leadership 159
Gaining Strategic Insight 160
Driving Strategic Change 164
Todd Connor and the Bunker 168
Chapter 5 Garnering Buy-in, Commitment, and Advocacy 179
Winning the Hearts of Your Followers 181
The YMCA of the USA 184
Engaging the Minds of Your Followers 192
The United States Coast Guard 193
Leveraging the Hands of Your Followers 201
The Heartland Angels 203
Chapter 6 Developing Strategic Leadership 211
Competencies of the Strategic Leader 213
Organization and Individual Development 237
GE's Crotonville 242
In Closing 247
Resources 249
Firming Up and Rounding Out Your Skills and Abilities 249
Notes 261
References 271
About the Authors 279
Index 281
B. KEITH SIMERSON helps private- and public-sector organizations develop strategic plans and provides consultation, executive coaching, and leadership development. B.K. is on the Faculty of Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy.