Fundamentals of Level Three Leadership

1. Leading Strategic Change

Concept

People want to talk about leadership, but before long they, or we, have to ask, “Leadership to what end?” Where are we going? And that’s the strategy question. I asked a CEO once what his strategy was and his answer was, “Our strategy for the next six months is cut costs.” I waited, but he was done. It didn’t seem strategic, certainly not long term, and surely omitted many areas of important concern.

So, to talk about leadership requires one to talk about strategy, or its component, vision. Who decides where we are going and what we should emphasize? Without clarity about direction or end point, how do we know how to lead? So, I say, you cannot talk about leadership without talking about strategy.

What about ...