{"id":11105,"date":"2018-09-11T20:17:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T01:17:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/6-factors-for-strategic-leadership\/"},"modified":"2018-09-11T20:17:06","modified_gmt":"2018-09-12T01:17:06","slug":"6-factors-for-strategic-leadership","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/6-factors-for-strategic-leadership\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Factors For Strategic Leadership"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tHave you ever been told you need to be more strategic? Or maybe you need to work on getting to the point, not presenting endless details, numbers, and facts, but distilling your case into a motivating vision. Have you been passed over for a promotion because you fail to see the big picture? If you\u2019re anything like us when we were on the receiving end of this feedback, you probably thought, \u201cWhat the heck does that even mean?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tWhether you\u2019re in a leadership role already or aspire to be, you should see this kind of feedback as a push to make a great shift from a tactical, gets-stuff-done worker to a strategic leader. When someone tells you that you need to \u201cbe more strategic,\u201d what they want is for you to show how you\u2019re driving corporate strategic goals and adding real value to the organization. You need to get results that matter, and then you need to share those results with the business in an enticing way.<\/p>\n

\n\tTHE WRONG JUNGLE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tStephen R. Covey used a story about producers cutting through a jungle to help explain leadership and big-picture thinking (https:\/\/leadershipforlife.wordpress.com\/2011\/08\/23\/hi\/<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cEnvision a group of producers cutting their way through the jungle with machetes. They\u2019re the producers, the problem solvers. They\u2019re cutting through the undergrowth, clearing it out. The managers are behind them, sharpening their machetes, writing policy and procedure manuals, holding muscle development programs, bringing in improved technologies, and setting up working schedules and compensation programs for machete wielders. The leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, \u2018Wrong jungle!\u2019<\/p>\n

\n\tBut how do the busy, efficient producers and managers often respond? \u2018Shut up! We\u2019re making progress.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tTo be strategic, not only does the leader need to separate himself from the work of the producers and managers to climb the tree, but he also requires the courage to report back on his findings\u2014that what everyone is busily working at below is in no way contributing to the expedition because they aren\u2019t even in the right jungle. And then he requires more courage to stand up to the managers who say, \u201cWe\u2019re making progress!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn Learning and Development (L&D), it can be challenging to determine whether we\u2019re working in the right jungle, particularly when we haven\u2019t tied our strategy to business results. By starting with a big-picture understanding of the business, you can align to what the business really needs from its L&D function. Delivering on critical business needs will help you become an L&D leader who other executives rely on for strategic insights.<\/p>\n

\n\tWHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TRIED TO CLIMB A TREE?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tWhether it was last week, last decade, or a far-away time and place you can\u2019t easily recall, take our word for it: Climbing trees isn\u2019t easy\u2014regardless of whether it\u2019s a literal tree or the metaphorical tree in Covey\u2019s jungle. The six factors for strategic leadership help you to build a ladder from the floor of the jungle to the treetops. By building a ladder, you have the ability to go up and down, using each rung as needed to help you make decisions and drive winning results.<\/p>\n

\n\tFACTOR 1: DEVELOP YOUR FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tWhether you\u2019re an aspiring leader or already in the role, you must create your own personal development plan. Learning how to understand the big picture, see your place within it, manage your time, and show up in a strategic way will give you solid footing on the first rung on the ladder. Be sure you\u2019re staying on top of what\u2019s going on inside and outside of your organization\u2014 at the very least, are you as informed about your company as the average consumer could be? There are many different elements involved in showing up as strategic, but a good place to start is by observing the top leaders in your company. Does your style, appearance, communication, and behavior seem compatible with theirs? As you create your development plan, ensure it aligns with your vision for your own life, both within and outside of work.<\/p>\n

\n\tFACTOR 2: ESTABLISH THE VISION<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tEvery action a winning leader takes is tied to a clear vision. You need to create a vision and strategy that are clearly linked to the corporate strategy. Your strategy should be concrete and measurable, and everyone on your team should understand how his or her actions advance the strategy.<\/p>\n

\n\tFACTOR 3: ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tEstablishing a governance board offers a structured way to bring stakeholders into your work. Ensure you\u2019re delivering value to your stakeholders and create an environment of shared accountability. Encourage your stakeholders to look across the organization to help you see opportunities and anticipate challenges.<\/p>\n

\n\tFACTOR 4: BUILD YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tA strategic plan is your blueprint for success. By starting with the end goals, you have a focused process for planning out the activities that will drive results. As you create your plan, take an inventory of your enablers\u2014these include things such as budget, staff, tools, and political will to make necessary changes. Ask targeted business impact questions, the answers to which will give you the information you need to make smart decisions. We use an Impact Blueprint to create a visual for what you\u2019re doing, where you\u2019re going, and how you will win.<\/p>\n

\n\tFACTOR 5: EXECUTE YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tYou can\u2019t plan forever\u2014at some point, you have to act, and you need to lead a great team to drive results while you\u2019re making sure you\u2019re still in the right jungle. When change, crisis, or confusion inevitably arises, you need to be prepared to act swiftly and get on a new track. A high-functioning, motivated team is critical to executing strategically.<\/p>\n

\n\tFACTOR 6: MAKE DECISIONS TO WIN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tContinuous improvement is a systemic perspective that is critical to this entire model. You don\u2019t get to the treetops, sit back, and relax\u2014 you look around for ways you can learn and get better, setting yourself up to succeed and your company to win. You may be at the top of the ladder today, but how will you stay there? Making decisions at the top requires a different mindset from the one that got you there. Never stop growing, and never ignore the information and resources around you. Share your findings and use information to drive meaningful change. The best leaders are the best learners, and they surround themselves with the brightest and most productive people. Identify someone you trust to help give you the feedback you need to grow.<\/p>\n

\n\tADD VALUE THROUGH STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\tRemember to take a strategic approach to your development. Revisit the company\u2019s vision, its strategic goals, and your functional goals, and determine if there are behaviors you need to demonstrate at a higher level to better assist in execution. And, of course, set and achieve measurable goals tied to the business so you can show your impact.<\/p>\n

\n\tBecoming a strategic leader is about much more than gaining a promotion\u2014it\u2019s about getting results for the business and never stopping.<\/p>\n

\n\tDiana Thomas, MBA is an executive coach and past vice president of Training, Learning, and Development for McDonald\u2019s USA.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\tStacey Boyle, Ph.D., is Chief People Planner for Smarter People Planning, a consultancy that helps some of the world\u2019s best companies answer their business questions about investments in people.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n\tLearn how to build your ladder in their new book, \u201cBe More Strategic in Business: How to win through stronger leadership and smarter decisions.\u201d Visit www.bemorestrategicinbusiness.com<\/a> for details.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\n\tWhen someone tells you that you need to \u201cbe more strategic,\u201d what they want is for you to show how you\u2019re driving corporate strategic goals and adding real value to the organization.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":276,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[31],"class_list":{"0":"post-11105","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-magazine","7":"tag-soapbox","8":"magazine_issues-september-2018"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 Factors For Strategic Leadership<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/trainingmag.com\/6-factors-for-strategic-leadership\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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