Strategic Leadership and Change Initiative

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Running Head: STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP CHANGE INITIATIVE 1

Strategic Leadership and Change Initiative

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP CHANGE INITIATIVE 2

Introduction

Technological advancement, economic globalization and enhanced innovative ideas have

led to increased competition among businesses. As a result, competitive pressures facing

organizations present the most eminent challenges that affect all businesses across the globe.

Despite this competition, organizations must remain competitive in the business environment to

enable them make profit and secure competitive advantage position against their rivals. Because

of this challenge among others, it has become necessary for organizations to formulate effective

ways of coping up with the changing business environment needs (Vecchio, 2007). The

organizational leadership plays a very crucial role in managing the affairs of the company. The

major reason for the success of global companies such as Google Inc., South West airlines,

Walmart and Apple Inc. is effective leadership that has been able to steer them to growth even

during economic crisis such as the global financial crisis experienced in the year 2008. Strategic

leadership change initiatives have become essential for leaders of organizations to enable them to

be able to adapt their leadership skills with the dynamic business environments (Bhugra, Till &

Ruiz, 2013). Leaders who are able to embrace positive leadership changes are able to inspire

employees so that they can lay off their own selfish interests for the common shared vision of the

organization. Such leaders are also able to inspire employees to become more creative and

innovative (Bhugra, Till & Ruiz, 2013). This paper identities transformational strategic

leadership as the most effective strategic leadership initiative that leaders of modern

organizations can be able to adopt to help them steer their organizations in the competitive

environments and be able to gain competitive advantage to reduce competitive pressures.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP CHANGE INITIATIVE 3

Problem Statement

Competitive pressure is the major challenge that affects modern organization. Leaders of

organizations must be able to ensure their organizations secure competitive advantage in the

competitive environment where they currently operate. However, leaders remain in dilemma on

the best strategic leadership change initiative to adopt to ensure they are able to steer their

organizations to great success. Since human resource factor is the major company’s resource that

will influence its profits and image, it is important that employees within an organization are

well motivated to ensure innovation and creativity is enhanced among them (Bhugra, Till &

Ruiz, 2013). Leaders must identify and initiate changes to enable employees enhance their

effectiveness and productivity leading to the success of the organization hence the need for a

very effective strategic leadership change strategy (Tannenbaum & Schmidt, 1973).

Leadership Traits Desirable Among Effective Leaders

Leadership is the process of influencing other people to work towards achievement of a

common goal and it involves the two-way interaction between the leader, followers and the

situation. Transformational leadership process has been identified as the most effective

leadership strategy that ensures the two interaction between the leader, follower and the situation

hence the bests strategic leadership change initiative that should be adopted by these leaders is

the transformational leadership changes (Karl, Shamir & Chen, 2003). Transformational leaders

have been found to possess some exceptional leadership traits that are highly desirable for a

leader to steer positive changes within his/her organization. For instance, transformational

leaders must be inspiring, enthusiastic, self-confident, empathetic, intuitive, focused, teamwork

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP CHANGE INITIATIVE 4

oriented, adaptable, and resourceful and open-minded (Karl, Shamir & Chen, 2003). They are

also required to be flexible and take a proactive role in the management of the organization.

Leaders with these qualities have continued to steer their organizations to perform exceptionally

well amid myriad challenges that affect the organization.

In addition, organizations must also be able to inspire their employees to develop their

own leadership skills and reduce the need for leadership among employees within an

organization. This is because most organizations have become global and hence the need to

manage large teams of employees needs minimal supervision due to diversified cultural

background and differences in skills possessed by this team (Chen & Silverthorne, 2005). The

major objective of many organizations is global expansion. As a result, emergent leadership

skills development is very crucial within the organization. Transformational leaders are able to