The New Guy Thinks Strategically!

New Strategic leadership is a self-explanatory term, and even when separated, still provides a meaningful definition. A definition of new strategic thinking can be summed up as the "ability to anticipate, prepare, and get positioned for the future."

A small company had been acquired by a larger firm. With this, the current leader had been let go and a new leader was appointed to take charge.

Anticipate and Prepare

Being acquired by a larger firm may bring more awareness to a company or provide better benefits, but several cons may get in the way at first. During a transition period, many employees are sometimes left without a job, or have decided to move on to other things in the wake of unsatisfied changes. It was no different when a well-liked president of the company was phased out due to financial setbacks. The firm took a lengthy process to make a move until finally appointing an internal employee to serve as the interim president. Left with a lot of the dirty work, the new leader immediately went to work and restored and initiated productivity with his employees. His biggest attribute was that he was prepared for this new role before he was even appointed as the new president. His natural work ethic had already groomed him for charismatic leadership and when the opportunity for advancement came, he wasted no time in taking charge and continuing the work. Likewise, a strategic leader will be able to pick up the pieces and restore work productivity regardless of a drastic change.

This should be a helpful example of how strategic leadership can be applied in your work environment. Should you have any future problems with work productivity, profits or even issues with your employees, address those concerns with some professional guidance and you'll discover how an investment in your team will result is bottom line results.

I believe it is a good thing when professional corporate planners construct strategic plans. It is an even better thing when people in the organization participate in the formulation of strategic priorities. But the best thing about strategic leadership is frequently missed by scholars and practitioners alike. The missing link is right under our nose. It is so obvious that it seems embarrassing.

There is no question that personal or team strategy should be linked to and aligned with the grand corporate business strategy. But, personal strategy should also contain independent goals and plans that will address long term needs, opportunities, and threats that can only be perceived by those embedded in the organization. In fact, exercising individual strategic leadership unleashes creativity, innovation, and motivation.

What better way to motivate people than encouraging them to pursue personalized priorities that will help them add value to the business over the long haul. It also helps them to achieve more of the elusive power that Abraham Maslow coined as "self actualization." By promoting individual strategic leadership, you will help your organization retain talent, motivate people to achieve their daily work tasks, and empower them to work on longer term strategic challenges and initiatives that challenge the status quo.

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