The role of the strategic leader

• Do you now have a clear idea of the role and responsibilities of a strategic leader?
• Are you aware that the art of strategia – being a leader-in-chief – requires much more of you than defining corporate strategy in the narrow sense?
• Have you grasped the essential functions required to be an effective leader at three levels (team, operational and strategic)?

Strategic leadership skills

• Has your organization a clear sense of direction, stemming from a common purpose, a positive set of values and a realistic vision for the future?
• Does your high-quality strategic thinking lead to strategic planning that both involves and commits the key players?
• Do you and your top team ensure that it happens?
• ‘The parts work together in the whole harmoniously and with the minimum of friction.’ How far does that description fit your organization?
• Have you achieved the optimum balance – in present circumstances – between centralization and decentralization?
• How much of your time do you spend on building good relations with your key partners and allies?
• Are you an ambassador for your organization in the local community and society at large – not least its elected representative government?
• List three ways in which you go about releasing the corporate spirit – energy, creativity and generosity:

  i

  ii

  iii

• Do you take direct personal responsibility for senior leadership appointments and ensure that the organization has a strategy for developing its leaders?