Strategic leaders: The gap between words and deeds

Mohammed Reza Karbalaei Esmaeil Yavar¹ Reza Radfar² Abbas Toloie Ashlaghi³

1) Master of EMBA, Management Faculty, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Karaj, Iran,
2) Associate Prof. in Ind. Management Dept., Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
3) Prof. in Ind. Management Dept., Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

IOI Code : XYHB-BEDHB
Publication : The 3rd International conference in Management in the 21st Century (3icm21.com)
Abstract :
    Leadership is the behavior of an individual, directing the activities of a group toward a shared goal. To direct the activities in a fruitful way, the leader needs to be trained strategically. Strategic skills are not only needed in times of growth, it is also needed during tough times, when resources are tight. Management leader´s capacity to think strategically is a key to exceedingly higher performance level. But statistics show that fewer than 10% of leaders exhibit strategic skills, a woefully inadequate number considering the demands on organizations today. Leaders may react to the events but it is too late to prevent damages or losses. What does cause them to react so passively? What is the reason while they have strategic knowledge, they ignore simple issues? This article applies Structural Equation Modeling analysis to study leaders’ strategic thinking skills and leadership strategic styles while considering the effect of the two on applying organizational learning and scenario planning at the organizations.

Keywords : strategic thinking strategic leadership style organizational learning scenario planning