Book Review: The Strategic Career: Let Business Principles Guide You by Bill

This book review discusses the importance of strategic leadership in enhancing the clarity of the readers regarding strategizing the path towards leadership. The review covers the purpose, question at issue, information, interpretation and inference, concepts, Gibbs Reflective Cycle, intellectual standards, assumptions, implications and consequences, point of view, and feelings.

Running head: LEADERSHIP
Book review
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Abstract
Leadership is an aspect of empowerment for the individuals, which enhances their
professionalism. From the initiation of the academic life, the individuals are provided the
training for attaining personal and professional development. The assignment forms one of
the suggestion materials for the individuals intending to start their business. The major drive
behind this is the strategies and the principles, which shapes the life of the individuals.
Adherence to these principles enables the individuals to attain positive results. Complying
with the principles relates with the action of planning, which helps in assessing the
effectiveness of the developed strategies.
Achieving clear understanding of the content and placing them in the initial stages of
developing strategies lays strong foundation for the career. This clarity helps in undertaking
judgmental decisions for following good practices. Having ideas is not enough. Bill in his
book, The Strategic Career, stresses on the need for proving the ideas. This is in terms of
averting encountering negative instances. Collecting feedback on the developed ideas relates
with the act of evaluation. This is crucial in terms of gaining an insight into others’ approach
towards the propositions.
Clarity is maintained through the direct expression of my opinion. In-depth discussion of the
ways to develop strategies enhances the knowledge of the businesspersons in terms of laying
productive foundation for the business. Precision, inference, implication and consequences
reflect the relation between cause and effects of implementing the strategies in business.
Synthesis of the ideas results in projecting the fact that planning helps in excavating the weak
areas for upgrading the standards and quality of the performance.

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Table of contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Description.................................................................................................................................3
Purpose...................................................................................................................................3
Question at issue....................................................................................................................3
Information.............................................................................................................................3
Interpretation and inference...................................................................................................4
Concepts.................................................................................................................................5
Gibbs Reflective Cycle..........................................................................................................5
Intellectual standards..............................................................................................................6
Assumptions...........................................................................................................................6
Implications and consequences..............................................................................................7
Point of view..........................................................................................................................7
Feelings......................................................................................................................................8
Evaluation..................................................................................................................................9
Clarity...................................................................................................................................10
Precision...............................................................................................................................10
Breadth.................................................................................................................................10
Analysis....................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion................................................................................................................................12
Action plan...............................................................................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................13
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................15

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Introduction
Seeking the appropriate career helps the individuals to attain success in life. This
appropriateness accomplishes the scope and arena of the thought processes, providing
satisfaction to the individuals. The individuals possess the right to seek work, according to
their capabilities. However, considering the risks within the process is always a wise
approach enhancing the leadership skills of the individuals (Covin & Slevin, 2017). This
assignment, through the review of the book, The Strategic Career: Let Business Principles
Guide You by Bill, attempts to enhance the clarity of the readers regarding strategic
leadership.
Description
Purpose
The purpose of the book is to address the clarity of the readers regarding the
strategizing the path towards leadership. Distinctive approach towards business helps in the
execution of journey mapping for the chosen career. This mapping is effective in terms of
assessing the prospective sources, which would help the individuals in attaining success (Bill,
2015). The example of business consultant in McKinsey proves beneficial for enlivening the
skills, expertise and knowledge of the businesspersons in terms of achieving efficiency within
the business activities.
Question at issue
According to the requirements of the assignment, the question at issue is whether the
approach taken for enhancing the leadership is appropriate in terms of the identified and the
specified objectives (Bill, 2015).

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Information
If page 3 of the book is considered, then the readers would find the first time when
strategy was prepared for the first time. Confidence is at a raw form in this stage. However,
overconfidence proves fatal in terms of achieving positive outcomes. Therefore,
consideration of Gibbs Reflective Cycle is essential in terms of assessing the effectiveness,
appropriateness and feasibility of the adopted strategies (Bergh et al., 2016). According to
this cycle, description relates to the act of highlighting the process of developing strategies,
so that systematic approach is followed for conducting the business activities. Application of
the preconceived skills, expertise and knowledge helps in measuring the capability towards
organizing the approach.
Interpretation and inference
The aspects of enterprise envisioning, value proposition, market research, game
theory and scenario planning are the steps, which leads to the formation of leadership skills.
Enterprise envisioning can be inferred as the act of laying strong foundation for the
determining the way in which the career would transcend. According to the propositions of
Bill, (2015), value proposition relates to the consciousness of generating values for the
actions performed, so that they stand out from others. In this process, rationality is crucial for
emerging as a leader amidst the crowd. This rationality can be the result of evaluation, as
mentioned in the Gibbs Reflective Cycle. Market research is conducting comparative study
between the self-efforts and the efforts put in by others towards achieving perfection in the
activities performed. In this, maturity is attaining organizational skills upon the achievement
of negative results.
Market research also relates to the thoughts of upgrading the performance with the
help of practice. Setting time limits for the actions reflect maturity. Behavioral theory is
related in this aspect, as dejection upon others’ success contradicts the maturity (Goetsch &
Davis, 2014). On the other hand, determination to uplift the standards of the performance is

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effective. Tactfulness in the approach can be considered as a wise approach towards the use
of game theory. On the other hand, disclosure of the undertaken steps compels the individuals
to encounter influences and pressures, which acts as a deviation from the identified and the
specified targets. However, scenario planning relates to effective handling of the situation.
The major drive behind this is the consideration of checklists and templates, which helps in
gaining an insight into the capability towards making practical application (Agrawal, 2015).
Concepts
Attempts towards developing strategies acts as an empowerment of the individuals.
This attempt lays strong foundation for the chosen career. Within this, group discussions,
surveys and feedbacks add value to the attempts. This is because all these means assures the
individuals that the steps, which they have taken are appropriate in terms of the identified
goals. After collecting the data, Gibbs Reflective Cycle comes into rescue, enhancing the
awareness of the individuals towards the actions, which they need to take, based on the
anticipated findings (Strand, 2014). Market research is assistance in terms of gaining
assurance about the feasibility of the findings. This is because the research enriches the
knowledge about the literature related to strategic leadership. Along with this, the research
also provides an insight into the steps undertaken by others for enhancing the leadership
skills, abilities and competencies.
The ways and means adopted for conducting the research reflects the approach
towards using the game theory. Using the theory through illegal means develops irrelevant
results for reaching to the path of leadership. Bill, (2015) is of the opinion that this types of
illegal approach projects the lack of strategic planning in the activities, which is bound to
encounter negative results.

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Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Among the concepts, Gibbs reflective cycle is the most crucial for preventing the
review of the book. This is in terms of reflecting on the exposed behaviour. The integrated
framework of the cycle helps the aspiring leaders to organize their approach towards the
activities. Description of the need for enhancing the leadership skills is the ability towards
progressing on the right track. Having a control on the feelings and emotions is an act of
maturity, which is directly drives the individuals towards leadership skills, abilities and
competencies. Evaluation is an act of synthesizing the feelings and concluding
recommendations in the form of action plans.
Intellectual standards
Accuracy and appropriateness is needed in terms of emerging as a leader. This is in
terms of averting the instances of fallacy and hypothetical approaches towards the exposed
performance. Consideration of personality tests is fruitful in terms of gaining an insight into
the personal strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The opportunities relates to the
“precision”, enhancing the standards and quality of performance. Undertaking the tests is a
means for developing relevancy in the process of upgrading the performance. Logical
reasoning in this process is assistance in terms of gaining trust, loyalty and dependence.
Significant sources is beneficial in terms of adding value towards the act of developing
relevance. Fair approach in this direction makes the leader approachable.
Assumptions
Placing the content in the initial stage of strategic planning proves appropriate in
terms of gaining clarity towards the subject matter of research. This act relates with the
component, description, as mentioned by Gibbs in his reflective cycle. On the contrary,
understanding the situation, through scenario planning is fruitful in terms of gaining an
insight into the real market scenario. Here, Burgelman et al. (2017) proposes the
appropriateness of market research. This research, in turn, is assistance in terms of

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conducting enterprise planning, which lays strong foundation towards the attempts towards
initiating the actions. Evaluation of the anticipated findings proves fruitful in assessing
whether the planned strategies align with the identified goals and objectives. Maintaining
consistency in the execution of evaluation enables the individuals in upgrading the standards
and quality of the performance. Apart from this, Blanchette and Ellington, (2018) opines that
upgradation is also achieved in the ways and means of developing strategies.
Implications and consequences
Consulting the senior professionals and the experts is a wise approach towards
enriching the preconceived skills, knowledge and expertise. This approach results in
knowledge transfer, reducing the knowledge gaps. Along with this, career counselling is also
beneficial in terms of addressing the queries of the businesspersons in terms of developing
strategies towards laying strategies for conducting enterprise planning. On the other hand,
Carnall and Roebuck, (2015) maintaining consistency in counselling the employees proves
beneficial in terms of assessing the effectiveness, appropriateness and feasibility of their
efforts.
Organizing the consultation of senior experts reflects systematic approach towards the
executing the business activities. On the other hand, randomly selecting the experts and
asking them about the appropriateness of the developed strategies might be strange and lead
to hypothetical results. This is because of the influences, which would act as a deviation from
the identified goals and objectives. Delving deep into the aspect, collaboration of experience
and learning is effective in terms of upgrading the preconceived knowledge (Bilginoğlu &
Yozgat, 2018).
Thoughts regarding combining business strategy and career strategy can be the
initiatives towards utilizing the strategies developed in forming the business into
enhancement of the career and an empowerment of the professionalism. This combination

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leads to upgradation of the personality. As a matter of specification, it enhances the
leadership skills, indicating the aspect of leading other towards making effective strategies.
Point of view
Through the means of flashback, the author Bill solves the queries related to the
development of values for strategies developed. Bill is of the view that conducting market
segment adds value to the products and service. The actions taken for selling the products
reflects the approach towards dealing with the needs, demands and requirements of the
customers (Bill, 2015). According to the viewpoints of Bill, Personal Value Proposition gains
an important position in the book. In this process, stress is laid on the performance
improvement, which can be attained through the means of continuous improvement. Within
this, Kotter’s eight step change model can be related, as it prepared the circumstances leading
to the change.
Narrow mindedness in the approach towards improving the performance yields
negative results. Therefore, visual observation skills and critical thinking skills need to be
improved for widening the scope and arena of the thought process. Through the investigation,
the author emerges successful in excavating the different roles, which the individuals play
(Bill, 2015). Here, the aspect of different fields is brought in for assessing the activity, which
the individuals are to perform in the given surroundings. Rationality within handling of the
situation is efficient in terms of emerging as a leader. This rationality helps the individual to
attain trust, loyalty and dependence from others. In this aspect, he plays the role of influencer,
moulding the people in his thoughts, beliefs and attitudes.
Feelings
Bill feels that creating long term strategies help the individuals to widen their thought
process towards setting up the business. Here, I can relate the aspect of journey mapping,

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which would help in enhancing the visual skills towards the chosen path for attaining
leadership skills, abilities and competencies. According to Norzailan, Yusof and Othman,
(2016), integrated approach, towards the creation of strategies, is effective for achieving
positive results. Although the book reaches page 151 at this point, however, the author
proposes strategic approach towards laying strong foundation for the career. In page 169, it
can be seen that the author suggests the readers to conduct current Personal Value
Proposition. This is in terms of gaining an insight into the self strengths, weakness,
opportunities and threats at the current stage. I affirm with Bill in terms of excavating the
condition of the self before attempting the task of value creation.
In this process, Bill proposes the aspect of opportunity identification in terms of
enhancing the awareness about the prospective sources, which can lead up to the path of
leadership (Bill, 2015). Identification of the best case relates with the identification of the
appropriate opportunity, which would help me to emerge as a leader. Here, I agree with Bill
in terms of creating action plans for seeking into insight into the avenues, which are opened
before for attaining personal and professional development.
Evaluation
Consciousness towards alternatives is a belief of the individuals in terms of gaining
assurance that if one way does not work out, they have other choices. However, in terms of
emerging as a leader, the individuals need to maintain consistency in selecting the appropriate
option, which would help them to attain success. This is in terms of gaining an understanding
that the alternative, once fitted to a problem, would not fit at all times (Kaufman, 2017). This
relates with the aspect of uncertainty, which adds hypothetical parameter to the performance
of the individuals. Here, prior knowledge about decision-making is needed for getting

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positive results. Self efforts might prove detrimental in terms of reaching to the benchmark
level of performance.
In the last pages of 257-265, Bill takes up the aspect of staying in power and authority
in terms of leadership. Personal annual report helps in excavating the areas, which I need to
improve for altering the approach towards executing the tasks. Discussing the reports with
peers, seniors and experienced personnel is beneficial in terms of assessing my position. This
is crucial for getting the needed guidance and support towards laying a strong foundation for
the career. Stowell and Mead, (2016) thinks that one of the important aspects in this direction,
is, the resilience to change. This feeling is personal in terms of the incapability to adopt
something, to which I am unfamiliar with. This is a natural behavioural tendency to resist
something, which is new to the norms and regulations. Altering the thought process and
adopting the change is a reflection of widened approach in terms of creating a positive image
before others.
Clarity
The name of the book, The Strategic Career itself reflects the purpose. The subtitle,
Let the Business Principles Guide You clearly represents the means through which the
purpose would be fulfilled (Bill, 2015). The starting line of the introduction, “Find the work
you are meant for”, clarifies the doubts of the readers about the ways through which the
survival struggles can be dealt with. “Setting the course” relates with the laying a good start
for the taking the career in the right shape. “Growing the muscles to uncover the
opportunities” clearly projects the initiatives, which the individuals need to take for securing
their position within the competitive ambience of the market (Bill, 2015).
Precision
Bill is of the view that “making sound decisions” is vital before accepting the
opportunities offered. Blind acceptance of the offer lacks rational and judgmental decision-

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making. On the other hand, checking the progress through tracking and monitoring relates
with undertaking good practices for enhancing the preconceived skills, expertise and
knowledge. “I was using the strategic approach without the career-centred body of
knowledge behind it” reflects the authors’ use of knowledge other than the bookish one (Bill,
2015). This helps in preparing the individuals to be practical in the fields and the given
environment.
Breadth
“The field of business is well research and proven” delves deeper into the fact that
market research reflects the real market scenario, where the marketers strategize their
marketing approach. “I was confident that this was a big idea, but I need to prove it” relates
with the act of conducting evaluation, which is essential in terms of assessing the
effectiveness, appropriateness and feasibility of the developed strategies. “Proving” enhances
the awareness of the people about the approach towards dealing with the allocated tasks (Bill,
2015).
Analysis
Listing the strategies aligned with the business requirements. Presenting the strategies
to the stakeholders improves the communication skills, indicative of enhancement for the
professional relationships. Optimizing the available authority is an initiative towards
developing others. Motivating others adds value to the leadership skills, abilities and
competencies. Not undertaking evaluation is the dark side of leadership, which compels the
individuals to encounter unwanted instances (Morgan, 2018). Consciousness towards
exerting the authority contradicts the aspect of people’s leader. This is in terms of the ego,
which pushes the kind, caring and understanding approaches to the backseat. These aspects
adds negative parameter to the component, leadership. In view of this negativity, leadership
cannot be considered as an art of enhancing the dynamic skills, abilities, competencies.

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As per the opinions of Bilginoğlu and Yozgat, (2018), motivating the team members
relates with the true essence of leadership. This is because motivation reflects the assurance
that proper guidance would be provided for attaining perfection level for executing the
business activities in an efficient and effective manner. For this, continuity needs to be
maintained in evaluation and planning of the developed strategies. Consulting the supervisors
clarifies the doubts, which reduces the occurrence of mistakes within the performance
(Blanchette & Ellington, 2018).
Conclusion
It is the self thought of the individuals to become a leader. For this, narrowing the
search and focusing on the prospective sources is a wise step in terms of enhancing the
leadership skills, abilities and competencies. Sharing the gained knowledge with others
relates with the concept of developing others. This approach makes the leaders a people’s
leader, who is easily approachable. Planning and evaluation is effective in terms of
organizing the performance in the right direction.
Action plan
For enhancing the leadership skills, I would set routines. The main aspect in this
would be the time limits, which would help me to assess my capability to complete the work
within the stipulated time. Discussing the strategies and plans with the supervisors and
trainers is beneficial for clarifying the doubts and enhancing the stability in professional
relationship. Sharing the ideas with friends, relatives and peers would be beneficial for me in
terms of assessing the effectiveness of the undertaken ideas. Visiting libraries would help me
to enrich my preconceived knowledge regarding the essential subjects. I also feel that
indulging in group discussions would enhance my communication skills. Indulging in quizzes
would help me to measure my memory towards remember the things.

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References
Agrawal, A. N. (2015). Examining impact of strategic leadership on effectiveness of business
organisation. NHRD Network Journal, 16.
Bergh, D. D., Aguinis, H., Heavey, C., Ketchen, D. J., Boyd, B. K., Su, P., ... & Joo, H.
(2016). Using meta‐analytic structural equation modeling to advance strategic
management research: Guidelines and an empirical illustration via the strategic
leadership‐performance relationship. Strategic Management Journal, 37(3), 477-497.
Bilginoğlu, E., & Yozgat, U. (2018). Impact of strategic leadership on organizational
performance, strategic orientation and operational strategy. Management Science
Letters, 8(12), 1331-1344.
Bill, B. (2015). The Strategic Career: Let Business Principles Guide You. Stanford
University Press.
Blanchette, K. L., & Ellington, L. (2018). Strategic leadership in a global VIRTUAL
REALITY. Strategic Leadership, 99.
Burgelman, R. A., McKinney, W., & Meza, P. E. (2017). Becoming Hewlett Packard: why
strategic leadership matters. Oxford University Press.
Carnall, C., & Roebuck, C. (2015). Strategic Leadership Development: Building World Class
Performance. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Covin, J. G., & Slevin, D. P. (2017). The entrepreneurial imperatives of strategic
leadership. Strategic entrepreneurship: Creating a new mindset, 307-327.
Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. B. (2014). Quality management for organizational excellence.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson.

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Kaufman, R. (2017). Practical Strategic Leadership: Aligning Human Performance
Development with Organizational Contribution. Performance Improvement, 56(2),
16-21.
Morgan, E. (2018). Achieving a Sustainable Future through Adaptive and Strategic
Leadership. In Evolving Leadership for Collective Wellbeing: Lessons for
Implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (pp. 67-82).
Emerald Publishing Limited.
Norzailan, Z., Yusof, S. M., & Othman, R. (2016). Developing strategic leadership
competencies. Journal of Advanced Management Science Vol, 4(1).
Stowell, S. J., & Mead, S. S. (2016). The Art of Strategic Leadership: How Leaders at All
Levels Prepare Themselves, Their Teams, and Organizations for the Future. John
Wiley & Sons.
Strand, R. (2014). Strategic leadership of corporate sustainability. Journal of Business
Ethics, 123(4), 687-706.

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Bibliography
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School Leaders Make a Difference?. Asian Social Science, 11(27), 219.
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Lewis, M. W., Andriopoulos, C., & Smith, W. K. (2014). Paradoxical leadership to enable
strategic agility. California Management Review, 56(3), 58-77.
Najmi, K., Kadir, A. R., & Kadir, M. I. A. (2018). Mediation effect of dynamic capability in
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organizational performance accountability. International Journal of Law and
Management, 60(2), 517-529.

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