Over the last few months, we have written several posts on the Zestfor blog on developing as a new leader.
We have covered a range of the key skills required, including how to become self-aware and manage your mindset, mastering difficult conversations, understanding cultural Intelligence, handling imposter syndrome and much more.
All the foundation skills any leader requires, so what next?
This is an important question because what gets you to one level (your skills and traits) rarely gets you to the next.
Enter the topic of developing your strategic leadership skills.
The Leadership Journey
Becoming a leader is an exciting journey.
Classically, it starts with individuals demonstrating technical ability in their role; I am sure we have all heard the story of the sales representative who ends up as the commercial leader of an organisation.
These people are generally proactive problem solvers who handle multiple tasks and responsibilities without being constantly performance-managed and reminded about the required results.
As they continue to perform, they stand out as someone who can handle more responsibility. The initial transition typically propels them into a leadership position; this could be as a team leader.
Here, the first changes occur as success starts to hinge not just on personal output but also on the ability to oversee the work of others so that the entire team performs well.
Here, a new leader learns the art of delegation, communication, basic team leadership and management. All the topics we have been covering recently are here on the blog.
What next?
As a new leader continues developing to become a senior leader, the need to create a new strategic skill set occurs.
A senior leader is required to shift from micro to macro thinking. Leaders must cultivate a broader organisational perspective.
No longer is the sales manager competing for resources for their team only. They understand that other business areas might need more financial resources for the company to succeed.
As leaders move to the next level, they require a strong grasp of industry dynamics and an ability to influence beyond their immediate teams.
They progress from managing tasks to leading sectors, shaping business strategy, driving change, and inspiring innovation across the organisation.
This rewarding journey requires continuous learning and adaptation to evolving business landscapes.
Something new leaders often forget as they move to the next level is that past success doesn’t guarantee future performance.
The skills, strategies, and mindset that have fuelled a leader’s ascent up to a certain point might not suffice or be relevant in their next role or under new market conditions.
As leaders climb higher, they face challenges that can’t always be addressed with a textbook solution.
Each leadership level requires different competencies, Emotional Intelligence and strategic foresight.
As we have all experienced in the last few years, external factors such as technological advancements, uncertain markets and the mental health of our workforce can render past strategies ineffective.
This is why leaders must embrace a mindset of lifelong learning, humility and adaptability if they want to continue to be successful.
So, what are the key strategic leadership skills to develop?
Core Strategic Leadership Skills
As we have already mentioned, strategic leadership goes beyond managing or leading a team; it involves various skills that help leaders identify and navigate complex challenges, drive change and make decisions with long-term implications.
Logically, there are several areas to develop as you grow.
Visionary Thinking
The ability to anticipate future trends and challenges by understanding changes in the industry, market conditions and a continually developing tech stack. Visionary leaders set clear, achievable long-term goals that serve as a guide for their teams and organisations.
Effective Communication
Strategic leaders must articulate their vision, strategies and expectations clearly and persuasively. This involves actively listening to others’ ideas and feedback, facilitating open dialogue and ensuring alignment across their team and the rest of the organisation.
Change Management
Change management is THE skill to drive transformation within any organisation. This includes understanding the necessity for change, communicating it effectively and leading the company through the process while managing the resistance that often occurs.
Decision-Making
Making decisions considering their broader implications, assessing risks and potential benefits and taking accountability for the outcomes is a super skill of any senior leader. This often involves a blend of analytical thinking, which can be learned through intuition and experience.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
We have discussed EQ multiple times on the Zestfor blog because it is a critical skill to develop as a leader. Emotional Intelligence is the ability to recognise and understand our emotions and those of others and use this awareness to manage interpersonal relationships through inspiration, influencing and empathy.
Resilience and Flexibility
The capacity to be flexible and adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining focus on the end goal is a key capability of strategic leaders.
Resilience helps leaders cope with setbacks, learn from failure and remain optimistic about the future. You can read our series of resilience posts here.
Strategic Planning and Execution
Developing, communicating, executing and sustaining corporate strategic initiatives requires a deep understanding of the organisation’s internal and external environments, resource allocation and strategic flexibility to adapt plans.
Developing these skills often requires conscious effort, self-reflection, continuous learning and feedback from mentors or coaches. They are vital for any leader transitioning from managerial to strategic leadership positions.
If you would like a conversation about how our leadership training programmes can embed strategic leadership skills in your organisation, please get in touch here.
Until next time,
Julia
About Zestfor
Zestfor delivers training coaching and development programs and resources scientifically tailored to develop new and experienced leaders and their teams in technical markets – including Pharmaceutical, IT, and Life Sciences.
Our blend of in-classroom, online, and virtual live-stream delivery methods will engage and assure even the most introverted team members from the first meeting.
You can find out more about our leadership programmes here.
