Report: Developing Strategic Management and Leadership Skills

This report examines the crucial link between strategic management and leadership, emphasizing their roles in achieving organizational goals, using Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc as a case study. It delves into the impact of management and leadership styles, including autocratic, democratic, and transformational approaches, on strategic decision-making. The report further evaluates the adaptability of different leadership styles to various situations, highlighting the Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model. It explores methods for reviewing current leadership requirements and planning for future leadership development, culminating in an analysis of skill development planning and the effectiveness of the methods employed. The report underscores the importance of effective leadership and strategic management in driving company performance and achieving long-term success.

Developing Strategic
Management and
Leadership Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................2
1.1) Link Between strategic management and leadership......................................................2
1.2) Impact of management or leadership style on strategic decisions..................................3
1.3) Evaluation of leadership styles being adapted to different situations.............................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
2.1) Impact of selected theories of management and leadership on organisational strategy. 6
2.2) Creation of leadership strategy that supports organisational direction...........................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
3.1) Methods to review current leadership requirements.......................................................9
3.2 Plan for the development of future situations requiring leadership...............................11
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................12
4.1) Planning of development of leadership skills...............................................................12
4.2 Report on the usefulness of methods used to plan the development of leadership skills14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Strategic management is related to planning, monitoring and controlling the work in an
organisation so that the goals and objectives can be achieved within time and stipulated budget.
It involves the formulation and implementation of strategies and policies in such a manner that
the company resources are utilised efficiently which help in achieving company goals in an
efficient manner. Strategic management help in strategically setting clear priorities and direction
in which organisation needs to progress so that the long-term goals are efficiently accomplished
making the company highly competitive in market. This also help the managers in analysing the
possible risk in market so that appropriate steps can be taken to mitigate that risk so that the
company can sustainably exits in market. Leadership skills on the other hand is the ability of
leaders in influencing the work of employees so that they can be directed to work in a particular
manner so that desired results are achieved. These skills are important so that the work of
employees can be directed, controlled and monitored in such a manner that the performance of
employees can be improved which help the company in increasing its productivity and
profitability. It also help in motivating the employees so that they can increase their work
efficiency which is also essential to build up the confidence of workers thereby boosting their
work performance. Through appropriate leadership style better relations can be build with
employees along with increasing their employee engagement in company which help in
increasing employee retention in company. Thus through strategic management and leadership
skills the work of employees can be directed in such a manner that company profits can be
increased.
In this report Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc is taken which is a British
multinational car manufacturing company that independently manufactures luxury sports cars
and grand tourers. The company was founded in 1913 and has its headquarters in England, UK.
The key products of company are luxury automotive which help it in generating revenue of over
£997.3 million in a year. In this report the impact of leadership and management on decision-
making will be studied along with various situations. Also theories related with them will be
discussed along with management and leadership styles that can be selected for company.
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TASK 1
1.1) Link Between strategic management and leadership
Strategic management and leadership are crucial for an organisation to express and set its
strategic vision for organisation and also motives and persuade other subordinates and staff to
attain and acquire that vision. Aston martin is a well known luxury sports car company of UK
founded in 1913. Since foundation of this organisation it is offering exclusively designed sports
cars and many iconic feature in its product but recently few issues are faced by Aston martin that
is associated with reduction in sales and expected profit (Aston Martin has a few
problems .2019). Thus, both managers and leaders are required to perform their job roles more
efficiently in order to boost morale of its employees and have better sales and profits in future. A
description about link between strategic management and leadership is provided below in context
of Aston Martin:
Management- It is basically associated with organisation and setting coordination among
various activities and tasks of a business in order to ensure better achievement of desired goals
and pre defined objectives. Management of Aston martin includes setting interconnections and
coordination among various functions to create better corporate policy and strategies. Besides
this, management in Aston martin is also responsible for having effective planning, controlling
and directing all the employees and resources of organisation in an optimum and most efficient
manner to ensure achievement of objectives and desired level of performance (Okumus, F and et.
al. 2019).
Leadership- It basically reflects the art of motivating and providing effective guiding to
an individual or group of individual to achieve some common or mutual goal. The definition of
leadership in context of Aston Martin includes that essential of being able and prepared with
adequate level of skills and influencing power in order to inspire and motivate them for better
performance (Ansoff and et. al., 2019) . In Aston martin, leaders are also responsible to establish
better communication and bonding among employees to create a better workplace environment
that facilitates better creativity and performance in employees.
To get better knowledge abut the link between strategic Management and Leadership a
description about their main roles and activities are provided below in form of this table:
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Management Leadership
The work of management is more formal and
scientific that includes setting proper
coordination and organise various activities
and task.
It is more associated with providing proper
guidance and direction to employees in order
to secure higher motivation and performance
level.
The management of an organisation is more
focused towards continuous improvement thus,
provides timely training and development to its
staff.
Leadership is associated with a motivational
force that compel people and individuals to
have more innovative and better ways of
performing task through providing perks and
other motivation (Miller, 2019).
Thus, it can be evaluated on the basis of above table that both management and
leadership are having different roles and responsibility in context of an organisation but a
interlink and coordination is always their between theses two concept to ensure better
achievement of goals in the organisation. It can be observed that management of Aston martin is
more concerned with planning and setting goals and target and the leaders are responsible to
communicate these goals and targets with employees to ensure their better achievement. Further,
it has been evaluated that in context of Aston martin, management ensures proper bifurcation of
jobs and responsibility among employees in order to properly organise them and the leaders are
responsible for guiding and directing staff to perform theses allocated job roles in a better way.
Thus, a link and coordination is between management and leadership is their that ensure proper
bifurcation of work together with guidance and motivation to ensure completion of task in more
better way. Further, at the time of bringing some changes and modification in Aston martin,
management ensures proper strategy formulation and required training for employees to make
them capable to adopt changes and leaders provide guidance and motivation to them to have
better execution of change (Sousa and Rocha, 2019). Thus, It can be concluded that a proper
coordination and link between management and leadership is essential for organisation like
Aston martin to ensure better achievement of gaols and success.
1.2) Impact of management or leadership style on strategic decisions
Management or leadership styles particularly includes the way of planning, organising,
directing, communicating and performing other activities that are adopted by a manager and
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leaders in an organisation (Stathakopoulos and et. al., 2019). Their are various management and
leadership style out of which description about 3 styles are provided below in context of Aston
martin in order to evaluate their impact on strategic decisions making of company.
Autocratic Leadership
It is a form of management style where all the decision making power and control is in
the hand of one person who takes very little or no inputs form its subordinates and colleagues.
Use of autocratic leadership styles ensures an error free outcomes and increase the phase and
speed of decision making whee are all the strategic decisions are taken by one person. In context
of Aston martin, use of autocratic leadership style is made by its leaders at the time of some
adverse situation where some tight and quick decisions are needed to encounter that situation
(Parvin, 2019). Thus, it can be evaluated that impact of autocratic leadership style on strategic
decision making is positive at the time of crisis and adverse situation but in day to day operation
it lead to negative influence on decision making as view point of other subordinates are not taken
thus, give rise to a feeling of dictatorship that effect strategic decision making.
Democratic Leadership
it is also known as participative leadership style where the leader and manager allows
participation of all employees and subordinates in decision making process. Thus, creates a
positive influence in strategic decision-making of an organisation through ensuring involvement
of all subordinates thus, lead to enhancement in their creativity and also boost morale of
employees. Further, democratic leadership style ensures strong contribution and high
productivity in Aston martin through improving morale and creativity level of its staff. Thus, it
can be evaluated that democratic leadership styles facilitate more realistic and reliable decision
and strategies through involvement view point of all subordinates therefore, enhance morale and
creativity level of employees (Jedaman and et. al., 2019).
Transformational Leadership
It is leadership style where leaders and manager work in coordination with employees
and staff in order to identify and develop the areas where changes and modification are required
for creation of a better vision. Transformational leadership style includes proper use of guidance
and inspiration for subordinates to ensure better execution and implementation of change. In
context of Aston martin, the leaders and managers make use of transformational leadership style
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to encounter timely changes and modification in order to have more practical and reliable
decision making as per the prevailing circumstances. Thus, it can be evaluated that in
transformational leadership the managers and leaders are rational and are more risk taker thus the
strategic decisions made are more innovative and creative.
1.3) Evaluation of leadership styles being adapted to different situations
The leadership style that is most adaptable and flexible to meet and encounter different
situation in most effective is situational leadership style. Use of this strategy is made by Aston
martin to evaluate various situations and circumstances that are prevailing in the business
environment so that best suitable style of leadership style can be adopted by its leaders that best
fits in and most suitable to resolve and meet current circumstances (Bratton, ed., 2020). To have
better evaluation about the situational leadership style and how it encounter different situation
use of Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model is made a description of which is
provided below in context of Aston martin.
Hersey & Blanchard Situational Leadership Model
According to this model, there is no suitable leadership style that is effective to meet the
requirements of all situation thus, instead of adopting a single leadership style efforts should be
made to adjust it according to the capabilities of its subordinates. This models provides four
styles of leadership that provides a connection and balance between leadership style adopted and
maturity level of employee. A description of these leadership styles is provided below:
Delegating style- This style is adopted by leaders of Aston Martin when a situation of
low level of task and low relationship is encountered by leaders. Under this leadership style,
higher responsibility level is dedicated by leaders with its subordinates that facilitates high
maturity level.
Participating style- Adoption of this leadership style is associated with low task and high
relationship where leaders of Aston martin are emphasised and more focused on shared and
mutual decision-making (Webb, 2019).
Selling styles- Implementation of this styles is observed with high level of task and high
relationship style where efforts are made by the landers of Aston martin to sell its ideas through
proper directions and in a persuasive manner. Use of this style is suitable with moderate maturity
level of followers.
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Telling styles- This styles is associated with high level of task and low relationship where
leaders of Aston martin are associated with explicit directions and supervise more closely to
provide better guidance to low maturity followers (Sultan and et. al., 2019).
Thus, this use of situational leadership style and Hersey & Blanchard Situational
Leadership Model provides a better base and link between task and relationship that are
experienced by a leaders at workplace thus, ensures more adaptability and flexibility to
encounter various situation.
Summary
On the basis of above task it can be evaluated that a link between management and
leadership ensure better performance of an organisation through facilitating better coordination
and motivation at workplace. Further, it can be observed that their are various leadership or
management styles like autocratic and democratic styles that have influence on decision making.
At last, it has been found that use of situational leadership style is made by organisation to
encounter different situation in a more effective way through facilitating higher level of
flexibility and adaptability.
TASK 2
2.1) Impact of selected theories of management and leadership on organisational strategy
Management and leadership lead to significant impact on organisational strategy a
valuation of which is provided below in context of Aston Martin.
Democrat leadership theory
This theory is associated with building a idea and culture of consensus in organisation
through ensuring better collaboration and bonding. Use of democratic theory has provided a
farmworker in Aston martin that brings people together, enhance communication and sharing of
ideas within a team to reach a consensuses on best approach forward (Okumus, F and et. al.
2019). The impact created by democratic leadership style on organisational strategy of Aston
martin includes following impacts:
Effective communication- The first and foremost impact lead by democratic leadership
style on Aston martin is associated with formulation of better organisational strategy that
facilitates effective communication in organisation so that democratic leadership theory can be
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easily adopted. Use of effective online and digital channels are become necessary for Aston
martin to ensures effective communication between leaders and subordinates.
Distribution of leadership- The influence lead by democratic leadership style on
organisational strategy of Aston martin includes better policies and strategies that facilitates
distribution of leadership among subordinates to evoke maximum involvement and the
participation of every member in the group activities and in the determination of objectives
(Ansoff and et. al., 2019) .
Empowerment of Subordinates- The another impact lead by democratic leadership
theory on organisational strategy of Aston martin includes creation of a system that empower and
strengthen employees and subordinates. Thus, democratic leadership style creates an influence
on organisational strategy through distribution of decision making power and ensuring effective
participation of all subordinates that enhance viability and reliability of business strategy. This
also create a impact on organisational strategy of Aston martin through facilitating regular
training and development programmes to empower its subordinates.
Transformational Theory
Use of this leadership style is made by Aston martin to ensure positive change at its
workplace through setting a balance and effective coordination with its subordinates (Miller,
2019). The impact created by Transformational theory and its essential requirement in context of
Aston martin are provided below:
Inspirational Motivation- The foremost requirement of transformational leadership style
is associated with creation of skills of inspirational motivation in leaders. Thus, regular training
and development should be provided by Aston martin to its leaders to ensures developmental of
motivation and inspiration skills in them.
Idealised Influence- This factor is associated with good image of leaders that ensures
idealised influence in subordinates. This can be achieved by Aston martin through representing a
good image of its leaders through providing timely appraisal and recognition that creates better
influential motivation in staff to perform more effectively (Sousa and Rocha, 2019).
Intellectual Stimulation- Transformational leadership style create impact in
organisational strategy of Aston martin through developing new and more innovative solution for
problems and through facilitating new ways of working.
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Individualized consideration- The organisational strategy of Aston martin should allow
proper participation and involvement of all staff. Beside this, importance to view point of all
employee and subordinates is also required to implement transformational leadership style that
create significant influence on its organisational strategies.
2.2) Creation of leadership strategy that supports organisational direction
The formation of a leadership strategy includes various steps in order to effectively
support organisational direction. The explanation of these steps for creation of leadership
strategy are provided below in context of Aston martin:
Setting objectives- The first step of creation of leadership strategy includes clearly setting
of mission and vision so that better planning and direction can be made in future. The objective
of leaders of Aston Martin is to improve its productive and sustainability in order to meet face
the consequences created by Brexit in more effective and better way (Stathakopoulos and et. al.,
2019).
Succession planning- It includes formulation of strategy and planning to meet the current
objectives in more effective manner. It has been decided by landers of Aston martin that proper
training is provided to employees to improve their productivity. Further, adoption of unbiased
HR practise are also made by leaders to promote diversity and higher level of sustainability at
workplace of Aston martin.
Unbiased HR practises- Adoption this ensures a more diversified and positive leadership
approach where equal growth opportunity is provided to all employees thus, facilitates a better
leadership strategy in Aston martin that improves and enhance productivity of all employees. A
culture of equality also enhance credibility and innovation in employees that support the high
level of sustainability (Parvin, 2019).
Training- In order to improve the productivity level and make them employees capable
to adopt use of more effective machines and tools to promote sustainability, regular training and
development programmes are provided by leaders of Aston martin which is a crucial part of its
leadership style.
Motivation- In order to encourage employees to have better performance efforts are
made by leaders of Aston martin to motivate staff that includes various perks and incentives in
the basis of performance level of employees (Jedaman and et. al., 2019). This motivates them to
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work more efficiently and promote higher level of productivity and sustainability in the
organisation.
Summary
on the basis of above task it can be evaluated that leadership theories like democratic
leadership theory and transformational leadership style create impact on organisational strategy
through emphasizing more on communication and inspirational motivation. Further, it can be
summarised that their are various steps that are associated with creation of leadership strategy
that includes setting of vision and providing motivation for achievement of desired objectives.
TASK 3
3.1) Methods to review current leadership requirements
In order to manage the work in an organisation it is important that the leaders of company
are able to understand certain requirements which can be fulfilled through their efficient skills
which can help the company in achieving its goals in the desired manner. Following are the
leadership requirements of Aston Martin: Understanding PESTLE: In order to make Aston Martin successful in the changing
market environment it is important that the leaders have efficient skills to evaluate both
positive and negative impact of changing internal and external environmental factors on
company. This help the company in gaining a competitive edge in market by remaining
aware of the changing factors (Armstrong, 2016). Innovative skills: It is essential that the leaders of company have innovative skills which
can help in encouraging the employees to think innovatively so that new and unique
features can be added in their products that can increase its sales. Manage virtual teams: As the company works multinationally it is important that leaders
have the power of managing teams which are virtually formed through virtual channels.
This enables the company in making efficient decisions which can be applied in all its
branches.
 Technological awareness: The leaders are also expected to have technological awareness
so that they can bring innovations in company by using new and advanced technological
equipments.
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All these leadership requirements if are effectively fulfilled by leaders of Aston Martin
then the company can become highly competitive in market by bringing highly innovative
products in market and accomplishing company goals within time. It is important that the
leadership skills of leaders are reviewed timely so that they can be improved time and again so
that company continue to gain a competitive edge in market. Blake and Moulton's managerial grid: This model can help in identifying the style of
leadership which is followed by the leaders of company. Aston Martin can use this model
so that it can be identified that what kind of leaders the company have which can help in
improving their skills through training or seminars so that they can be made efficient in
managing both people and task. 360 degree feedback: This is a process in which leaders are evaluated by giving them
feedbacks from their superiors, peers, customers etc. so that their performance can be
evaluated from all perspectives. In Aston Martin this process can be used on evaluating
the skills of leaders so that improvement can be made so that they can be made efficient
in their leadership capabilities (Pidgeon, 2017). Surveys: The leaders of Aston Martin can be reviewed by taking surveys and
questionnaires so that direct data can be collected on the performance of leaders so that
the gap in their performance can be improved by taking appropriate measures. This will
also help in analysing the ability of leaders in adhering to the requirements of leaders
which are required in Aston Martin.
 Performance reviews: In this method the performance of leaders are analysed in
accordance with certain standards so that their ability in meeting those standards can be
analysed. If there is a gap in the performance of leaders as expected then training is given
to them so that their performance can be efficiently be improved (Phillips and Phillips,
2016).
It can thus be said that in order to efficiently lead the work in an organisation it is
important that the requirement of leaders are evaluated so that the ability of leaders can be
analysed based on these requirements. Further various methods can be used by company so that
the gap in performance of leaders can be filled in an efficient manner.
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