Strategic Leadership in Action: Roles, Theories, and Implementation

This report provides a comprehensive overview of strategic leadership, emphasizing its crucial role in developing a company's vision, adapting to changes, and gaining a competitive edge. It details the multifaceted roles of a strategic leader as a driver, motivator, and innovator within an organization. The report analyzes different leadership theories, including contingency, situational, transformational, great man, and behavioral theories, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, it reflects on the traits and skills necessary for effective strategic leadership, highlighting the importance of adapting leadership styles to various organizational situations and promoting employee motivation and efficiency. The study concludes that strategic leadership is vital for organizational success through effective strategy formulation, stakeholder engagement, and continuous learning.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
IN ACTION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
PART-1............................................................................................................................................3
Role of strategic leadership.........................................................................................................3
PART-2............................................................................................................................................6
Different leadership theories........................................................................................................6
PART-3............................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Strategic leadership is a practice which uses different styles of leadership for developing
vision of the company and enable the organisation in adopting to the changes and provide the
company with a competitive edge over its competitors. A strategic leader plays an active role in
the company (Ali and Anwar, 2021). The leader acts as s driver that steers the organisation to
the path of growth and success. It helps the company in boosting the productivity of its
employees with effective leadership that motivates and guides the employees toward
organisational goals. It helps the organisation in adopting to changes and promote innovation
and creation of new techniques that helps in sharpening the skills of its employees.
This report shows the role of strategic leadership in the organisation. It shows the roles
that a leader plays. Also it analyses the different leadership theories that are necessary for
organisation. Furthermore, it show the self analysis of the traits and skills of the leadership skills
I need to possess
MAIN BODY
PART-1
Role of strategic leadership.
Leadership in business refers to the capacity of an individual in setting and achieving the
goals and objectives of the company by taking fast and quick decision that outperforms the
competition and motivates and inspires employees of the organisation to enhance their efficiency
(Shao, 2019). Leaders are considered an invaluable resource for the organisation when it comes
to communication and formulation of strategic directions. Also, they help in boosting dedication
and motivation among the team members of the organisation that helps in increasing the
performance efficiency of the organization. Strategic leadership can be defined as the ability of
the leader in anticipating, envisioning, empowering and maintaining flexibility which helps in
creating necessary strategic changes. A strategic leader has many faces that is they encompasses
the management of the organisation through others. They also works as the helpers for the
company so that it helps the business in adjusting with the dynamic world in todays global
environment.

Strategic leadership not only demands incorporation of internal environment of the
organisation but also it requires to incorporate the external organisational environment (Kurzhals
and König, 2020). Also, strategic leaders are responsible for analysing the critical informational
process that are crucial for decision making. The following actions of the leadership helps the
organisation in enhancing their efficiency:
 Determination of strategic direction.
 Establishment of balanced business controls.
 Effective management of the company's resource portfolio.
 Development of sustainable organisational culture.
 Inculcation of effective ethical practices.
Strategic leadership plays a very crucial role in an organisation in order to enforce and
form business strategies for the company. It works as bridging the gap between the heart of the
organisation to its body (Cortes and Herrmann, 2021). It play a crucial role in encouraging the
organisation in achieving success. It is very important leaders formulate and implement
appropriate strategies that help in achieving the goals of the company. Also, they play a role in
building the relation with the stakeholders of the company and majorly ensures learning and
teaching in the organisation. That is a strategic leader is directly responsible for directing its
employees towards effective completion of the organization tasks. In other words it can be said
Illustration 1: strategic leadership actions

strategic leadership is a process which transforms company into successful firms with proper
implementation of strategies. Strategic leadership develops strategic mission and vision, sets
objectives and goals, formulate strategies and execute them. Thus, strategic leadership plays a
very crucial role in the management of the organisation and successful running of the
organisation.
Leadership plays a significant role in carrying and formulation of the strategies. it starts
with the process of offering vision. And later on, it is deemed to be the foundation for the
cushion culture where every individual realises what are the values and beliefs prevailing in the
organisation (Covin and Slevin, 2017). Fundamentally, values are the one's that offers the
direction. It is the responsibility of the leader to familiarize the employees of the organisation
with the culture and values of the company because strategies cannot be implemented without
the involvement of everyone. Therefore, it is necessary that every employee understand the need
for change and contribute their effort toward enhancing efficiency of the company. And it is only
the leaders who can motivate and inspire the employees to bring change and work efficiently.
Strategic leadership works in way that helps in finding the gaps by properly scanning the internal
and external environment and accordingly formulating and implementing plan to bridge the gaps.
The most significant liability of a strategic leader is to put the vision and aims of the
organisation into consideration (Kowo and Akinbola, 2019). With the help of vision, it helps the
leaders in determining the norms which will offer them direction and larger extent for the
organisation. The aim and vision of the organisation offers base that enables authorization of
individuals to align with initiative, independence and judgement. It has been evaluated that
vision must be broad and specific so that it captures the dreams, desires and hopes of the work
force and also defines the scope of their own work that will help in fulfilment of organisational
vision.
Strategic leader as an innovator
A strategic leader is the one who acts as an innovator that is the main focus of the
leadership is to bring novelty within the organisation as a whole. It is the responsibility of the
leadership to take innovative strategic actions and evaluate the performance of the employees in
order to provide the company with a competitive advantage. Strategic leadership evaluates every
aspect of the organisation which ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation (Al

Thani and Obeidat, 2020). The formulation of innovative strategies provides a way forward
towards achieving and fulfilling the aim and vision of the company.
Strategic leader as analyst
Strategic leadership is the one that evaluates and analyse the different situation by finding
out the gaps between the desired and the current state of the organization. It is the duty of the
strategic leadership to implement strategies that help in filling these gaps according the
situational needs so that desired goals can be achieved (Ellinger and Ellinger, 2020). Therefore,
the leadership scans and analyses the business environment and organises the whole business in
planning and executing these strategies.
Strategic leader as Decision maker
Strategic leaders make the decision which help the organization in achieving the vision.
Therefore, it becomes vital for leadership to make decision making. Strategic leadership is
responsible for the effective functioning in the organization (Hunitie, 2018). With effective
decision making it helps the organisation in achieving the goals and objectives of the
organisation effectively. They also, act as a collaborator that is they provide all the information
required for implementation of the strategies to the employees of the organisation. Also, they
make strategic alliances with other companies and creates a network that align with the external
and internal environment globally and locally.
PART-2
Different leadership theories
The various different types of leadership theories that are as follows:
CONTIGENCY THEORY OF LEADERSHIP-
It is a theory that suggest that there is no particular way or style of leadership that is
applicable in all situation prevailing in an organisation. In other words, it can be said there are
several variables that influences a particular situations and it is the duty and responsibility of the
leadership to take into account these variables before choosing the course of action that will be
efficient (Ismail and Muhammad, 2018). This theory makes leadership easier by working
together with employees and making common decision for addressing the problems of the
organisation and promoting the best practices for solving these problems. It empowers the team
member in selecting the leader depending upon the complexity of the task to be achieved.

However, on the other hand, it can be evaluated that the contingency theory lacks the
scientific research that is essential for supporting the effectiveness of any task to be
accomplished (Keep, 2018). Also, it fails to outline the strategies that helps in increasing
motivation among the employees of the organisation. it can also be evaluated that it can
sometimes mislead the company in selection of the leaders. The contingency theory does address
the uncertainties that affects a operation of the business.
SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORY
It is theory that gives importance to the situational variables to be considered while
consideration of leadership. That is situational leadership should be flexible. This theory suggest
that leadership should adapt to the existing situation and environment prevailing in the
organisation and it is not just based on the particular skills of the leaders (Altman and Tushman,
2017). Rather it is based on the modification that a leader makes that suits the organisational
situations and requirements.
Portas should inculcate this theory of leadership so that it will benefit her organisation in
many ways. That is one of the main advantage of this theory is that it is easy to use. However,
when a leader adapts their leadership style according to the needs of their followers, it will help
in increasing the productivity of its employees as they will be motivated and thus, result in
enhancing the efficiency and productivity of the organisation automatically. Also, it will help in
improving the commitment of employees towards the organisation and will also help in retaining
the employees of the organisation (Hadrawi, 2018). Thus, it is one of the leadership theory that
Portas should inculcate so that it can result in creating a positive environment in her organisation.
TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP THEORY
This theory is also known as the relationship theory because it focuses on the building the
relation between the leader and employee of the organisation. This theory suggests that leaders
should be more charismatic and inspirational so that they encourage and motivates their
followers in transforming and performing task with higher efficiency (Alkheyi and et.al., 2020).
In this theory the leaders influence their followers by highlighting the importance and
significance of the given task. Here the leaders are not only focused on higher efficiency of
organisation but also individual efficiency of its team members.
Another theory of leadership that Portas can use in her organisation is the
transformational theory. That is it will help the company in keeping its core values that honest

and ethical by focusing on not only company's performance but by focusing on employees
efficiency and productivity. It will help Portas ion building a relationship with her employees
and thus encourage them to adapt to the changes in the organization. Also, transformational
leadership is considered one of the most effective form of leadership that will help in effective
management of organisation and employees.
GREAT MAN THEORY OF LEADERSHIP
It is considered one of the earliest theory of leadership which is based on assumption that
leadership is an inborn quality it cannot be acquired over period. It suggest that leaders are born
rather than being made (Omer and Ahmed, 2017). According to the great man theory, a leader
has all the traits like confidence, charismatic, communication, intellectual social aptitude etc.
From birth. It emphasis on the qualities that you have or you don't.
However, this theory has been highly criticised by various critics because it does not have
any scientific research to back up the theory. Also, this theory assumes that leaders are born and
not made, thus removing the ambition and possibility of an individual in becoming a leader. And
this theory only considers the individuals who are in power. Thus, in today's dynamic business
this theory cannot work (Najmaei, 2018).
BEHAVIORAL THEORY OF LEADERSHIP
It is a theory that suggest that leaders success depends on their behaviours rather than on
the natural attributes. It includes evaluating and observing a leaders behaviours and actions while
they respond to a particular situation (Mahdi and Nassar, 2021). It believes that leaders are made
and not just born. It suggests that anyone can be leader who has implemented and learn certain
actions and behaviours of the leadership.
However this theories has both pros and cons that is its advantage its that it helps in
addressing the key issues of the organization by implementation of effective leadership model
and also it helps in identification of the leadership style that is most suitable for an organisation.
But on the other hands, behavioural leadership is a learned process, therefore it takes time(Viitala
and Kangas, 2017).
LEADERSHIP IN ROLE CULTURE
Role culture refers to the culture where every individual in the organization have been
delegated responsibilities and roles according to their interest, education qualification and their

specialization so that they can perform up to their optimal level (Priadana and et.al., 2021). In
role culture the employees decide what's best for them and are willingly accepting the
challenges. It this type of culture every single individual is responsible and accountable for
particular task and takes the ownership of their work. In such work cultures the power comes
with responsibility. Leadership plays a very important role in such type of culture. Because in
this type of culture every individual has their own roles and responsibilities therefore, it becomes
very important to guide them in one direction so that the organisational goals and objectives are
achieved. It becomes important that appropriate leadership types are being inculcated so that the
employees can be guided and directed towards the organisational goals. However, if leadership is
not properly inculcated in the role culture of the organisation, it can hinder the growth of the
company and may also lead the company towards low profit margin by decreasing their
efficiency. To maintain stability in the organisation it is very important there is effective
implementation of leadership that will motivate and inspires the employees in the right direction
for achieving the desired objectives. Also, with effective leadership it will create a positive
environment in the organisation which will inspire and motivate the employees in automatically
improving their efficiency and performance levels.
PART-3
While making a self-analysis it would be right to said that I might see myself as an
influencer. This is because I have quality and capability that I can maker influence to anyone and
make itself agree with my thoughts and perspective. As influence is one of the main quality that
a leader must possess that it can make agree other and make integration of the individual thought
to a single thought with the aspect of influence. Being an influencer I would counted and
consider myself as a good leader. In the same way it is important to note that in order to become
a successful leader there must be a necessity that certain skills and qualities must be possessed by
a leader that may include the clarity of ideas, originality, insight, logic in demonstration and clear
arguments (Rochette, 2018). This means it is important that a leader must possess these qualities.
Since leadership is related with the aspect of leading the followers with the aspect of influence or
the guidance. It is also right to be said that leadership is constructed right from the birth because
leaders are born not to be built as per the Great man theory of leadership (Porfírio and et.al.,
2021). This means the qualities of a leader would be present right from the birth in an individual
that would make it as a good leader. However, on the other hand with the persistence of

influence quality in myself and eagerness to develop some more qualities it would not be wrong
to said that I would become a great leader in future.
This can be supported with the behaviour theory of leadership which states that a leader
is not to be made with the aspect of its natural attributes but it would be made through its
behaviour (Harrison, 2018). This means that a leader would be made from its behaviour and
qualities. As I have the quality which would assist me to mould the context and making it fit.
This means with I can make influence the followers to mould and fix in the situation rather than
making changes from the zero. Apart from that through the skill of effective communication I
can make effective presentation of my ideas and thoughts with clarity. Since clarity of thought is
one of the major skill of a leader so with the persistence of this skill I can easily understand the
opponent situation and make suggest best solution. This would also signify the presence of
problem solving skill. With the presence of quality and skill that I can make moulding and
transforming other so that they would support each other and the overall motive would be meet.
It would be right to states that the qualities and skills of a transforming leader is being presented
by me which would further be justified with the aspect of transformation leadership theory.
I would like to become such leader that I can meet changing situation i.e. a leader who
can feet to every situation. Because leader is the one person that is the pillar behind the success
of any organisation. He plays a vital role in the company to reach the heights. Therefore, It is
very important that I possess the skills required by a leader so that I can be a asset for my
organisation. A leader is the one who guides and motivates the employees of the organisation in
achieving the goals and objectives of the company and not only that a leader helps in building a
positive environment on the organisation (Tetik, 2020). That is he built a workplace environment
where there is high team spirit and coordination so that the work can be completed with higher
efficiency.
Thus, I would like to become a leader who adapts in every situation and take decision
based on the situations prevailing in the organisation and keeping in mind the impact of those
decisions on the organisation and its employees. I would like to become a leader who inspires its
followers and motivates them. Also, situational leadership approach will help me in becoming
more flexible that is it will help in creating diversity and will encourage individuals to come
forward and share their ideas and opinions. Thus, it will result in creation of positive work
environment. Also, it will help in enhancing the effectiveness of the teams by maximising the

efficiency of every individual employees thus, creating a comfortable environment for the
workers. This will also help me increasing my awareness that it will help in understanding me
employees better and will help me in making my employees stay productive in every situation.
On the other hand, I would also like to become a leader who transform my leadership
skills in order to motivate, inspire, guide and encourage my employees to create and innovate
changes which will help them in shaping the success for themselves and the company. With this
transformational leadership skills it will help me in better communication with my employees
and will help me retaining my employees . Also, it will encourage training and development of
the workers and will sharpen their skills so that they can increase their efficiency and
productivity which will benefit growth of both the company and the individual as well.
However a transformational leader is the one who believes in the vision of the company and
inspires the employees to be productive and work towards the achieving of the company goals
(Zia-ud-Din and et.al., 2017). However they not only focus on just motivating the employees but
also with their vision it will be prove beneficial for the company in planning and forming
strategies for achieving the objectives of the company.
Thus, from the self analysis it can be evaluated that I need to possess the skills of a leader
who can adopt to every situation and transform my skills so that I can motivate and inspire all
my employees towards achieving the organisational goals by increasing their productivity and
efficiency. Also, with my effective leadership skills, it will help me creating a positive
environment that will help in retaining and lowering the employee turnover with higher job
satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that leadership plays a very vital role in the
success of an organisation. It help the organisation in faster and quicker decision making. a
strategic leaders is the one who helps in inspiring and motivating its employees towards the goals
of the company. Also it can be concluded that strategic leaders are an invaluable asset to the
companies. They play several roles in the organisation for achieving the objectives of the
company with higher productivity and efficiency. Furthermore, it can be concluded that there are
various theories of leadership that suggest different different elements that a leader can possess.
However, it is very important that a leader must act according to certain theories that will help in

better decision making. At the end, it can be summarised that for effective management and
higher efficiency of the organisation, strategic leadership play a very significant role.

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