Leading the Strategy: As a leader, you set out to create initiatives that fill the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Every decision made is a steppingstone to an end goal, but what is guiding those decisions? That’s where strategy takes shape and ultimately shows your team a path towards long-term success — strategy is vital, but it means nothing without action.
Consider how one motivates a team of people to achieve their best; you can use leadership principles to guide your strategy to high performance. You can look beyond the technical knowledge to see how you can steer things in the direction you want to go.
Set Your Intentions
Both leaders and strategists know the crucial first step for designing an actionable strategy is to define your overall intentions. The type of leader you are can say a lot about your approach towards a given strategy — will you constantly push for growth? Do you prefer a more hands-off approach? Will you take risks? Will you be more calculated? Take the time to get to know yourself and the methods that work best for you. Not only will it impact almost all of your judgments, but it also impacts your team’s efforts, and eventually, your results.
Be Creative and Communicate Clearly
Leaders tend to have a forward-thinking vision, which is also a key component in strategizing. As entrepreneur Robert F. Smith said, “The pace of change in the world today demands originality. It demands that you run your race. That you look ahead, not behind. Convention won’t cut it anymore. To succeed, you need to step up and be original, to overcome fear and not escape it.” Balancing being informed, alert, and prepared with new ideas and innovation will work to your advantage.
Turning a bold vision into action demands confident decision-making skills. This is how you will get tangible results from an idea that was once conceptual and how you can lead the strategy to success. The more clarity you can offer through the decision-making process, the more effective communication will be with your team. Your team must understand the ambition of what you are trying to accomplish. By communicating your ideas clearly, you open the door for your team to further express their input and creativity to strengthen their productivity, innovation, and overall performance.
Engage and Motivate – Leading the Strategy
Taking intent and communication a step further, you’ll find a good leader builds and empowers their team. As Marillyn Hewson, former CEO of Lockheed Martin, said,
“Good leaders organize and align people around what the team needs to do. Great leaders motivate and inspire people with why they’re doing it. That’s purpose. And that’s the key to achieving something truly transformational.”
Marilyn Hewson
Why not do the same for your strategy? Give your ideas meaning, believe in why they can work, and push them to thrive. Ultimately, build trust in your strategy. Don’t isolate your plan. To keep it present and involved, let your strategy be a constant topic of the conversation internally. Nurture your strategy with that mentality of inclusiveness and reliability.
Learn and Understand
Any good leader will listen and learn from their team; you have to do your strategy. Learn from it; where has it taken you, and where is it having trouble reaching? Use that information to improve continuously. The cycle between evaluating and implementing should never stop.
Negative mindsets are too easy to come by; make sure to check yours. When things don’t go the way you planned, it’s essential to acknowledge what fell short and actively seek change. Strong leaders know failure is temporary; better yet, it is an opportunity. Whether you rebuild or create something brand new, it’s a chance to be better than where you started.
Ultimately, strategy is an essential guide in business, but it should not be passive. Don’t just work under its description; work with it in partnership. Using leadership skills to define your direction and develop your actions can give you that extra edge. With clear intentions and vital decisions, you can empower your ideas, innovate your plans, and lead your strategy and team to success.
How are you leading the strategy at your organization?
