DRIVING STRATEGIC RESULTS

What does driving strategic results mean?

One thing perennially in demand across organisations is a leader who can drive strategic results. These individuals understand how a complex project with various priorities fits with the purpose and mission statement of a company, and what kinds of goals must be set to accurately reflect this.

Strategic leaders are able to convey a compelling and persuasive vision that employees can then follow. This emphasis on the big picture isn’t enough on its own, however – it needs to be supplemented by a concrete understanding of finer details, and an ability to take action in an informed and risk-minimising manner.

Why is driving strategic results important in the workplace?

For an organisation to reach its true potential, it must be led by individuals who can combine strategy and action. A picture-perfect plan for a company is ineffective without the knowledge and human resources required to put it into action. Similarly, a committed, motivated team can become restless and dispirited if the strategic purpose of a project isn’t clear or doesn’t make sense to them.

This is an extremely common hurdle. According to the consulting firm Gartner, 83% of company strategies can fail as a result of faulty assumptions about clients, internal capabilities or even competitors. Ensuring that these assumptions are well known and shared across an organisation is critical to executing a strategic plan and achieving desirable outcomes.

Of course, assumptions are hardly fool-proof, since the nature of modern business means that unforeseen complications and obstacles are almost inescapable. A strategic leader will be able to deliver clarity for employees during such circumstances, indicating which priorities have shifted and what contingencies need to be reconsidered.

Accordingly, driving strategic results demands a combination of planning skills, agility and clear, concise communication. In addition, a well-planned strategy must be driven by evidence and relevant data. Especially during times of change, strategy and goals need to be aligned across the breadth of an organisation while remaining agile, which is why the ability to effectively drive strategic results is in high demand.