Week 23

1) In your own words and using referenced quotes describe what is meant by the term “Strategic Leadership”.

Strategic leadership can be defined as someone who can anticipate, envision, maintain flexibility, and empower others to create strategic change as necessary. A manager with strategic leadership skills exhibits the ability to guide the company through the new competitive landscape by influencing the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of co-workers, managing through others and successfully processing or making sense of complex, ambiguous information by successfully dealing with change and uncertainty (I. o. C. A. o., 2010).

2)  Identify two interesting similarities and two differences between the 5 Elements of successful and Effective Strategic Leadership model and the Transcendent Leadership model

Two interesting similarities of 2 elements of successful and effective strategic leadership model and the Transcendent Leadership model are:

•  Both of these models focus on maintaining good relationship among leader and their follower.
• Main objective of both leadership style is to achieve company's goals and objectives

Two differences are:

• Lynch model is more focused on motivating and rewarding employees whereas Transcendent Leadership model believes in managing the relation between leaders and followers.
• Lynch model mainly focuses on people within the organization whereas Transcendent model focuses on nonhuman elements like strategy, structure, rules and procedures.

3. How would you describe Jeff Bezos strategic leadership style?

Is there evidence that he demonstrate all the elements of strategic leadership from the two

Models? Which elements are strongly evident in the case and which less so?

(Think about all five elements of the Lynch model and all three elements of the transcendent leadership model)

I think Jeff Bezos demonstrates all the elements of strategic leadership from the two models. The Lynch model focuses more on activities within an organization and transcendent leadership model talks both inside and outside of organization. Jeff Bezos is focused about maintaining a best working environment which leads to organizational effectiveness likewise effectively communicating with external stakeholders about their long term views.

According to him, the interest of stakeholders and the customers are essential factors for the growth of the company and must focus on doing good job for company rather bothering about competitor's plan. He frequently gives interview so that he could communicate with the stakeholder's and let them know about how company is operating and what are their principles.

Although he did not talk about rewarding his employees and leadership of self but still I think he is a perfect character to describe as strategic leader who posses all the elements which are required by Lynch model and Transcendent leadership model.

(Source: Crossan, M., Vera, D and Nanjad, L. (2008) Transcendent Leadership: strategic leadership in dynamic environments, T)

References:

Crossan, M., Vera, D and Nanjad, L. (2008) Transcendent Leadership: strategic leadership in dynamic environments, T

India, I. o. C. A. o., 2010. Strategic Management. New Delhi: Sahitya Bhawan Publications.

 Lynch,  R., (2009) Strategic Management, 5th Edition, Prentice Hall, chapter 16