The leader of today has greater challenges than ever before in terms of unlocking human potential in their organisation and delivering results. This programme will help you achieve those aims and help you initiate and manage change more effectively. In particular, it will help you to:

Develop an effective strategy to achieve your business goals
Understand the role of emotional intelligence in leadership
Take away a practical leadership tool-kit
Develop a more dynamic approach through enhanced strategic creativity
Broaden your understanding of the corporate culture to increase your influence within it
Improve your persuasion and influencing skills to achieve your strategic goals
Learn the key functions of strategic leadership

In today’s world, one of the main aims of the leader is to develop the capability of the organisation to handle change and the challenges of the future even if those challenges have yet to be discovered. Leading in the organisational setting is becoming increasingly difficult because of the increase in regulation in all sectors and the risk of litigation. All organisations need leaders who can handle these challenges effectively, in particular the complexities of organisational life. At the same time, people who feel they are led effectively from the top find it easier to cope with and perform under higher pressure levels and therefore achieve the ultimate business goals

Who should attend?

This programme has been specifically designed for senior managers and those middle managers who are on the fast track to senior positions. It is suitable for both public and private sector individuals and all senior managers, executives and directors who understand the benefits both personally and professionally of developing strategic leadership skills.

Practical training methods

The course leader uses a broad range of learning techniques including short input sessions, individual development exercises, group work and case studies to provide a strong mix between practical training and giving a sound foundation of strategic leadership theory. The course provides you with a unique opportunity to put into practice what you have learnt and benefit from the observations and perceptions of the other course members.

Leadership is less about doing and more about being.

Day One

Introduction and objectives

The need for strategic leadership

The roots of leadership
How thought on leadership has developed
Current perceptions on strategic leadership

The leadership/management debate

People and process issues
The integrated approach to deliver results

Levels of leadership

The capabilities required at the strategic level
The difference between strategic leadership and strategy

Qualities and capabilities of strategic leaders

Illustration through case studies
Review of strategic capability

Developing specific leadership qualities

A review of strategic capability using case study examples
Developing an approach to leadership
Reviewing the traditional and current approaches to leadership

CASE STUDY 1: Developing a leadership strategy

Understanding leadership processes at all levels

Applying the leadership hierarchy
Analysing the process

PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Demonstrating the theory of leadership processes in practice

Leadership and emotional intelligence

The relationship between leadership and emotion
The essence of organisational climate

PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Participants will work on an exercise to illustrate the theory of emotional intelligence in practice

Day Two

Review of day one

Understanding strategic creativity

Examining the psychological aspects of strategic thinking
Mind mapping and other approaches to creative thinking
Developing a creativity toolkit

CASE STUDY 2: A strategic leadership challenge
Developing a new vision and plan to transform an organisation to face future challenges based on a real-life scenario

Developing strategic leadership capability

A review of current approaches
Understanding the behavioural approaches
Developing a contingency approach

Understanding corporate culture

The structural aspects
The behavioural aspects
The human aspects

How leaders can change corporate culture

Developing a toolkit for change
Understanding the cultural web
The link with emotional intelligence

CASE STUDY 3: Analysing leadership techniques
This practical case study illustrates how the strategic approach and the application of appropriate leadership techniques including ‘split screen ability’ work in a real-life scenario

Performance aspects at the strategic level

Developing vision, goals and objectives
Creating corporate identity and alignment
Working with individual influencers

Effective strategic influencing skills

The characteristics of effective persuasive leaders
Understanding methods of persuasion
Profiling others

Building the top team

The nature of the top team
Accepting diversity and challenge

The key functions of strategic leadership

Putting these into action
Personal leadership planning

Identifying tomorrow’s leaders

Practical approaches
The challenges for the future.

Programme closure

Action logs
Next steps
Feedback

2 Day Introduction - Becoming a Strategic Leader - Manchester

2 Day Introduction - Becoming a Strategic Leader - Birmingham