Chapter 11: Developing Strategic Leadership

Many leaders receive feedback that they need to be more strategic. The text defines strategic leadership as "Individuals and collectives enact strategic leadership when they think, act, and influence others in ways that promote the enduring direction, alignment, and commitment of the organization." Treating strategy as a learning process allows individuals to work on thinking, acting, and influencing skills while focusing on how the organization strategically operates.
One way practice strategic leadership is through viewing strategy as a learning process. Strategic Learning Process (SLP) can be done in five steps: 1. Assessing where we are, 2. Understanding who we are and where we want to go, 3. Learning how to get there, 4. Making the journey, and 5. Checking our progress. Leadership must emphasize strategy as a learning process in order to develop a strong strategic culture inside an organization. This will help the organization focus on the right things to create growth and maximize resources, develop strategies, and create a learning culture that helps the organization perform at a higher level.
A personal example of strategic leadership is in my job as a Mary Kay Beauty Consultant. Although I am my own boss, I am a team member to my unit. We needed to qualify for a car in March, so around December we assessed where we were, and set a goal. Our Director (leader) helped us set individual goals as well as an overall strategic plan in order for our unit to reach our goal. We researched and used our skills in order to "learn how to get there." Individually, we made the journey by selling and recruiting (we had to sell about $5000 more product by March). We checked our progress at the end of March when we achieved our goal and became an 8-time car qualifying unit. Later, we discussed ways we each gained commitment through the process and ways that we could improve.
What do you think about strategic leadership? Does it discourage change? Whether it is using the five steps or an example of how a better learning culture was created, can you think of an example where an organization you've been involved in practiced strategic leadership? Any ways you or your organization can improve strategically?