COURSE OVERVIEW
This programme combines proven practical methods with fresh insights from contemporary strategic thinking. At its core, strategic planning emphasizes leadership—not just who holds the title of “leader.” Participants will explore lateral thinking, KPI/performance measurement, and the preparation of an organizational culture that drives performance. Strategic leadership is about mobilizing people toward a shared vision and a positive future. This course provides step-by-step guidance on achieving strategic goals while fostering effective leadership at all levels.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The 10-day Strategic Planning & Smart Leadership Programme aims to enable participants to:
- Identify the steps of strategic planning—vision, strategy development, implementation, and culture—to build a competitive organizational advantage
- Apply analytical and conceptual approaches to understand strategic leadership in practice
- Align organizational goals with strategy, planning, and KPIs, linking department and individual performance to overarching objectives
- Incorporate customer and stakeholder needs into strategic planning
- Understand how the actions of customers, competitors, and internal operations shape outcomes
- Clearly define and communicate the organization’s business context
- Examine and address personal assumptions, biases, and values in leadership
- Tailor leadership approaches to suit individual team members’ styles
- Master principled, “win-win” negotiation and persuasion skills
- Deliver effective feedback for both positive performance and areas requiring improvement
- Assess individual needs and provide targeted coaching or mentoring
- Adapt leadership approaches to evolving organizational functions and environments
- Set direction and create flexible plans that deliver measurable results
- Apply effective questioning, advocacy, and presentation skills
- Build and maintain high-performing teams through strategic team-building practices
TARGET AUDIENCE
This course is designed for:
- Professionals and leaders from any sector seeking in-depth knowledge of strategic planning and leadership best practices
- Individuals looking to enhance their capacity as strategic thinkers
- Managers responsible for translating vision into actionable plans and ensuring organizational alignment
- Senior executives and management personnel involved in strategy formulation and execution
- Functional managers responsible for developing high-performance teams
Participants will learn to apply advanced principles of strategic planning and organizational development to strengthen workforce capability and drive corporate transformation.
TRAINING METHODOLOGY
This programme employs a results-oriented, experiential learning approach, combining:
- Short, focused lectures with structured lessons from the learning manual
- Engaging PowerPoint presentations and video materials
- Interactive group discussions and action planning
- Practical exercises to reinforce key concepts
- Ample opportunities for Q&A
- Collaborative group processes emphasizing experiential learning and strategic leadership in action
Pre- and post-course assessments will evaluate the effectiveness of the training and measure participant growth.
COURSE CONTENTS
Module 1 – Introduction to Strategic Leadership Principles
Focus: Understanding the core elements of successful leadership: mission, vision, strategy, resources, and culture.
Topics:
- Principles of strategic leadership and reasons for varying business performance in similar environments
- Role and importance of strategic leadership
- Overview of strategic leadership and planning processes
- Distinguishing a strategic plan from a business plan
- Defining the organization’s mission and vision
- Assessing internal and external environments
Module 2 – Formulating Strategic Plans
Focus: Creating unique, value-driven strategies.
Topics:
- Elements of strategic planning and their impact on competitive advantage
- Strategic capability, organizational capability, and resource capability
- Core strategic choices and defining non-strategic activities
- Competencies required for managers as strategic planners
Module 3 – Strategic Alignment and Performance
Focus: Aligning mission, vision, strategy, and culture with people, processes, and systems.
Topics:
- Creating a strategic management map
- Driving employee alignment and shared purpose
- Building blocks for executing strategic leadership
- Linking performance outcomes to alignment of employees, customers, strategy, and processes
- Integrating resources and systems for consistent performance
Module 4 – Strategy Implementation and KPI/Performance Measurement
Focus: Applying lateral thinking and KPIs to implement strategy effectively.
Topics:
- Strategy implementation best practices
- Developing detailed implementation plans
- Identifying departmental and individual KPIs
- Communicating strategy and overcoming internal resistance
Module 5 – Being a Strategic Leader
Focus: Integrating strategic planning and leadership through practical exercises.
Topics:
- Embedding strategy-making into managerial roles at all levels
- Developing strategic leadership and implementation capability
- Team exercises and organizational commitment strategies
- Reviewing implementation progress and planning for follow-up actions
Module 6 – Context, Direction, Vision, and Outcomes
Focus: Establishing direction and setting flexible team and individual goals.
Topics:
- Leadership requirements at different stages of team development
- Communicating organizational context and tangible vision
- Setting specific, actionable, and flexible outcomes
- Reviewing the 10 core competencies for team leadership
Module 7 – Managing Individual Differences
Focus: Adapting leadership approaches to meet diverse team needs.
Topics:
- Understanding assertiveness and responsiveness
- Four behavioral styles: Analytical, Driver, Amiable, Expressive
- Receiving feedback on personal managerial style
- Meeting the needs of different styles within a team
- Developing versatility for various business situations and stakeholder interactions
Module 8 – Communication and Advocacy: Questioning, Listening, and Presentation Skills
Focus: Building essential communication skills for effective leadership.
Topics:
- Overcoming communication barriers in teams
- Active and empathetic listening techniques
- Open and closed questioning strategies
- Building trust through effective communication
- Advocacy and presentation skills for leadership contexts
- Developing a communication strategy for team leadership
Module 9 – Team Building and Empowerment
Focus: Strengthening team leadership in dynamic environments.
Topics:
- Distinguishing between groups and true teams
- Team goals for specific tasks vs. self-directed teams
- Joint development of team goals and outcomes
- Interpersonal aspects of team interaction
- Delegation and empowerment strategies
- Establishing feedback, recognition, and celebration systems
Module 10 – Coaching and Managing Performance Issues
Focus: Performance mentoring and coaching with credibility and trust.
Topics:
- Identifying underlying issues behind reactions and emotions
- Understanding the role and impact of team empathy
- Strategies for managing reactions and conflict
- Differentiating mentoring and coaching approaches
- Assessing development needs and applying appropriate coaching methods
- Mastering interaction skills essential to effective coaching
