A crucial part of leadership requires the setting and achieving of goals. These practices are what make up the vision for organizations. This focal point provides direction, and assists others throughout the organization to be inspired for success. There are two types of planning which encompass the leaders vision for the organization. These methods are known as strategic plans and operational plans. Not only are both necessary for an organization to succeed, but they also must correlate with one another. As a leader, a person must know the differences separating the two types of planning and when to employ each. The S.M.A.R.T. approach, provided by Colorado State University-Global Campus Applying Leadership Principles Module 4 (2015) sets five standard principles for setting and achieving goals.
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Determining Appropriate Usefulness In both strategic and operational planning, leaders need to decipher when and to what level of appropriateness their strategies must be upheld. For instance, setting a short-term goal for a seasonal timeline (like holiday sales marketing) would be more pertinent to operational planning, verses a long-term goal (like annual inventory allocations for yearly sales) to asses future organizational growth. Compliance to this understanding allows for complete competence throughout superior leadership planning.
Conclusion
Great leaders always maintain a sense of vision that is compelling to all others associated with their organization. By applying the S.M.A.R.T. principles correlated with both strategic and operational planning, leaders can be assured their clear and articulate vision to be upheld. Appropriate use of both planning styles, permits assurance that the organization has clear and articulated message being presented through the leader grand
...d attributes listed in this paper described the qualities which best enable future strategic leaders to be successful in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment. Also addressed was the need to cultivate future strategic leaders; this method conflicts with traditional methods of placing individuals in strategic positions without utilizing a vetting process. Therefore, it should be concluded that strategic leaders should be developed and identified through experience and training and lastly channeled through a tailored education process. It is also important to note, that they need to know where they're going, (vision) they need to actively communicate (communication skills) this to both their subordinates and especially to those outside the bounds of their organizational structure all while having the fortitude to see thing through (persistence).
New businesses will take longer to thrive with the United States falling economy. The faltering job market and the deepening slump in housing threaten to hurt consumer spending. Consumers are becoming more conscious of their spending and therefore using cash to pay for smaller necessary purchases. The cost of entertainment and other presumed luxuries may be pushed to the background by most families, when having to choose whether to pay for a bill or treat the family out. Thriving businesses will understand the need to provide a service or product at affordable prices.
An operation plan is an integral part of an organization’s strategic plan which is vital for effective leadership. In addition, an operation plan gives details of what size of the organization strategic plan will be pursued during a particular period of time. A leadership operation plan is a detailed outline that is used to give a clear picture of the manner in which a team, a section or a particular department will work towards the achievement of the organization’s strategic objectives. Notably, the strategic goals of an organization are usually outlined in the business plan of an organization which also puts across the intended direction of a firm (Dlsweb, 2015). An effective leadership operation plan should be in line with the overall goals of a firm as outlined in the strategic plan of an organization. For an effective alignment, the team, a section, or a department
The leadership effectiveness depends upon the leadership style that is most compatible with the motivational need of the followers (Maslow, 1954).Strategic leadership involves developing strategies and empowering people to put those strategies to work throughout the organization. This includes knowing the firm’s strategic direction, aligning the strategy with the firms culture, communicating and modeling high ethical standards, and when necessary initiating changes. The link between strategy formulation and strategy execution is described as effective strategic leadership. And the exertion of effective strategic leadership isn’t always easy. Leaders have leadership styles that are distinctive of themselves. A style is described as consistent
A catalyst for organizational success is strategy. Having a solid plan can take your organization to new heights. So much preparation and analysis is necessary in order to prepare such a sound tactic. Being able to loo...
The theories on strategy development and associated concepts of strategic thinking and strategic leadership are becoming more and more popular in today’s business environment. Leaders possessing strategic skills could turn to be the best strategy of their own as well as for their respective organizations.
In strategic planning, managers must contemplate the fluctuations that will take place during their plan. Long-term goals are likely not going to go exactly as planned; therefore, management should be prepared to come up with new ideas and methodically to reach these goals in different ways (Roth, 2015). Revision of the plan will occur due to changes in the situation or dynamics of the organization. A well-designed strategic plan will need refinement annually. Refinement of the strategic plan and a high-level of commitment is necessary from all levels of leadership. Godiwalla (2016) states that commitment and refinement of the strategic plan is necessary for the organization to
Organization failures often result from the complexity of team tactical plans. Importantly, the strategic plans are inherent in the role of the top management. The managers must understand that effective strategic planning activity incorporates the entire organization 's performance and not just affecting one department performance. A good strategic planning process includes parameters for tracking the performance of the entire organizational. Measuring performance makes the plan satisfactory, achievable by the targeted beneficiary (Bryson, 2012).
The Benefits and Limitations of Strategic Planning for Organizations "It was August of 1914 and Germany had committed virtually its entire army to the invasion of Belgium and France. Few German troops remained to defend East Prussia against the invasion of two huge Russian armies. Despite the numerical inferiority, Colonel Hoffmann, chief of the German Eighth Army staff, created an audacious strategy to surround and annihilate one of the Russian armies. He began to plan a detailed attack. At the same time, on a train traveling east, General Ludendorff, the incoming chief of staff of the reinforced German forces in East Prussia, identified the same opportunity and created exactly the same strategy.
A leader must know what their goals are and be prepared to take the appropriate steps to achieve them. Great leadership has the capacity to make the vision a reality. Having a vision is more than an image of the future. It is also a tool used to inspire and motivate people. It makes people believe that change can occur and that anything is possible. Even if it the vision is farfetched and outlandish, it stills creates a solid foundation for possible success and growth. Gostick and Elton (2012) believe that effective managers manifest their commitment to mission and values in everything they do- their actions, their dreams, their example, and certainly their speech
If asked what strategic planning is one could interpret it as simply a road map that can guide the organization in the right direction. It is very unlikely that an organization would know which direction to take without a sense of direction. Managers are faced every day with decisions that have a major impact on the direction the organization must take, therefore, strategic planning can play an important role in guiding managers in the right direction. In other words strategic planning is a tool that management can use to give them a sense of direction that will guide them in doing a better job and to ensure that all the members of the organization are working toward the same goals
As a leader it is important to have a vision and a goal, but it is even more crucial to have followers who trust in your vision and goals. Trust is developed by displaying positive energy and attitude. Having a goal and a vision helps an organization move into the future. Without a goal or a vision an organization is going nowhere. It is bound to fail. The six steps of goal setting are vision, goals, objective, tasks, timeliness, and follow-up. Creating a mental picture of how the organization will look like in the future is the vision. When an organization has a vision, it is looking for change, growth, and improvement for the future. This vision of the future is challenging the present processes at an organization. This challenge is the first step in the process of great leadership. Leadership starts with a vision. Even Thomas Edison had a vision, a theory that gave us the light bulb. When setting goals, it is important to make sure that they are realistic, attainable, improving the organization, and having as many people involved as possible. Goal difficulty, goal spe...
Before a leader can be successful and before goals can be set, a vision is needed. A vision is something you want to achieve or accomplish, something you want for the future, and it is the most important thing for a successful leader to have. Without a clear vision, leaders will have problems inspiring others, and employees will have a difficult time being motivated due to not knowing what they’re working to achieve. Clark (1997) states that “As a leader, you have to get your followers to trust you and be sold on your vision” (p. 1)...
...c management or planning presents a structure or agenda for dealing with issues and solving problems, therefore, understanding potential risks or pitfalls of strategic management and being prepared to deal with them is critical and vital to success. Strategic management not only permits top leaders and managers to be more proactive than reactive in building or developing their own potential or outlook in an organization, and it also lets them to make the first move and influence activities, consequently, executives and management can control or in charge of the company’s own future, and achieve its main goals and objectives. Overall, increasing cost-effectiveness and efficiency, improving the value for its stakeholders, and advancing customer services and management excellence are the key objectives of strategic management and decision making in an organization.
Operational planning is what drives strategic planning goals to a success. On a day to day basis, operational plans are being communicated and decisions are being made. Operational planning is important because it leads to the goals and visions of the organization and by doing that, operational plans must be made daily to keep the organization competitive in the market. Friend & Zehle (2004) discuss operational plans central to the allocation of resources, it uses inputs to scale operations in order to deliver information about all stages of the primary value chain activies and the support of those activities. Without operational plans, an organization would have no way to reach its goals that were set. The market is changing constantly and operational plans help keep organizations making effective