Strategic leadership - Davies and Davies

I like the way this article paints a picture of the strategic leader. The following factors are outlined:

• the ability to be strategically oriented

This is about considering both the long term future and the current contextual setting of the organisation/school. It is linking visions with daily work. It is about creating the strategy with others and not merely communicating it to others - this is of the utmost importance (in my opinion).

• the ability to translate strategy into action

Converting strategy into operational terms. This requires maintaining current features and leading others in defining the future of the school.

• the ability to align people and organisations

This involves encouraging a commitment to shared values. The leader's personal ideas and values are highly important here. A connection between thinking and action needs to be built. Leaders need to inlfuence through creating meanings and setting goals. This is also about altering attitudes, values and beliefs.

• the ability to determine effective intervention points

This is about not only knowing what to do but when to intervene and change direction.

• the ability to develop strategic capabilities

Rather than testing to measure short term goals, the emphasis should be on understanding teaching and learning, problem solving, assessment for learning.
* fundamental understanding of teaching and learning rather than delivering the latest curriculum innovation
* problem solving culture rather than a blame culture
* assessment for learning rather than assessment of learning

• leaders having dissatisfaction/restlesness with the present

Senge 'restlesness = creative tension'. This is acting as advocates for change.

• leaders having absorptive capacity

Essentially this is absorbing new information, learning from it and applying it. Leaders need to hav eth ability to learn.

• leaders having adaptive capavity

Having the ability to change.

• leaders having leadership wisdom

Taking action at the right time. Sternberg identifies wisdom as 'balancing interests/time frames/responses to the environment, applying knowledge for common good, infusing values. This is about all levels of intelligence - practical, analytical, emotional and social.