Strategic Thinking for Leaders

Ø INTRODUCTION

  The process of strategic thinking allows us to analyze situations and problems - and then prepare the plan that will take us to new levels or through a change.

In strategic planning, leaders gather data and decide on the path the organization will take to achieve its goals. With strategic thinking, leaders at all levels and in all functions continually scan for new ways to contribute to the organization’s success. They apply those insights as they carry out organizational priorities and provide input to the overall strategy. In this way, strategic thinking is part of leader job – whatever their role or level of responsibility.

With strategic thinking taking on even greater importance in organizations, we’ve made key updates to the innovation Arabic Centre Strategic Thinking topic. The content we’ve added is geared to helping leaders boost their productivity and effectiveness by making strategic thinking a habit, and includes practical ways that enable them to do so.

Ø Objectives

v  Appreciate the importance of leadership and strategic thinking in complex business environment

v  Recognize the difference between management and leadership

v  Assess and apply a range of leadership theories

v  Apply a structured framework for strategic analysis and implementation

v  Understand and apply key tools and techniques used in strategic management

v  Identify and assess strategic options

v  Understand the principles of effective implementation of strategy

v  Effectively manage stakeholders and deal with organizational change

v  Recognize the importance of leadership mindset and personal leadership

v  Enhance the leadership skills including: setting direction, aligning people, motivating and inspiring

v  Understand the role of the leader in building an effective team

v  Develop communication and human interaction skills to effectively influence and empower people

v  Appreciate the differences in leadership and communication styles

v  Recognize and mitigate irrational influences on human behavior

v  Improve group decision processes

v  Practice a tried and tested approach for influential business communication

v  Apply strategic thinking to analyze their current environment and determine their organizational ambition

v  Employ the strategic management process to best achieve the desired ambition

v  Assess and choose strategies that create a sustainable competitive advantage for the organization

v  Determine strategic objectives, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and 'SMART' targets for the organization

v  Convert strategic plans to operating plans through creating strategic initiatives and sequencing activities

Ø TRAINING METHODOLOGY

 The course enables leaders to practice the development of each of the strategy management steps. They will act as organizational managers in developing each strategic component for an organization of their choosing. The most important strategy tools and frameworks will be discussed and put into practical use during the course.

This training course will combine presentations with instructor-guided interactive discussions between participants relating to their individual workplace. Practical exercises, video material and case studies aiming at stimulating these discussions and providing maximum benefit to the participants will support the training.

This interactive training course includes the following training methodologies as a percentage of the total tuition hours:

v  30% Lectures, Concepts, Role Play

v  30% Workshops & Work Presentations, Techniques

v  20% Based on Case Studies & Practical Exercises

v  20% Videos, Software & General Discussions

v  Pre and Post Test

Ø WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

 All managers and senior professionals who are involved in influencing, formulating or supporting the long-term planning and strategy of their department or organization,

v  Leaders who are looking to update their skillset and ability

v  Managers who have taken on a new team leadership role

v  Managers who have a challenging team or feel their teams are ‘stuck’

v  Senior management wanting to learn modern leadership techniques

Outline

Day 1

Strategic Thinking for leaders

·         The role of strategic thinking and leadership in complex business environment

·         What do we mean by leadership in the 21st century

·         Managing vs leading

·         Leadership theory and practical leadership competencies for engineers

·         Fundamentals of human decision making and influence

·         The relationship between teams, leaders and managers

·         Key leadership tasks and responsibilities

·         Balancing influence, authority and power

·         Different leadership styles and style flexibility

·         Self-awareness and getting feedback

·         Emotional intelligence and rapport

·         The content of strategy

·         A framework for strategic analysis

·         The role of organisational context in strategic leadership

·         Strategic management process

·         Strategic objectives, vision and mission

Day  2

Strategic Analysis

·         Understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the business and industry

·         Stakeholder management

·         Strategic analysis tools and techniques 

Crafting and Evaluating Strategies through Critical Thinking

·         Formulating and considering alternative solutions

·         Rational choice, decisions under certainty, risk and uncertainty

·         Contemporary concepts in risk management

·         Case study application

Day 3

Linking Strategy and Execution

•          Drawing warranted conclusions and making justified recommendations

•          Implementation planning and change management considerations

•          Barriers to change and techniques to overcome them

Leading Change through Personal Influence

•          Leadership and authority, responsibility, power

•          Models of personality and leadership

•          Emotional intelligence and leadership

•          Understanding and influencing individual perceptions, attitudes and            behaviours

•          Personal leadership for engineers

•          Motivation and performance management

•          Developing trust

Day 4

Leading Groups and Teams

•          Team development model

•          High performing team

•          Establishing effective team processes

•          Leading the search for effective solutions: minimise bias, maximise buy-in

Leadership and Value Generation through Effective Communication

•          Fundamentals of effective communication

•          Communication barriers

•          Effective communication through recognition of the interpersonal interaction styles

•          Developing active listening skills

•          Strategic thinking and leadership in negotiations and conflict resolution

•          Case study application

Day 5

Influence and Leadership

•          Factors that influence people and decisions

•          AIM-FOCUS method of persuasive business communication

•          Practical applications: problem solving and influential communication