Winfried Dressler wrote:
> I am preparing a course on strategic management/leading.
Winfried--
I think that, of the many definitions to choose from, the one closest to
your use of the word here is, "a plan, method, or series of stratagems or
maneuvers for obtaining a specific goal or result." Strategy is
definitely a martial word that's been adopted to nonmilitary uses--but it
conveys a very definite military mental state. The word is derived from a
combining of two Greek words for army and leader.
I brought this up for two reasons. One was my observation that, despite
your leading sentence (quoted above), most of the rest of your posting as
well as the responses you've received, have been about strategic
management. Strategic leadership has not been mentioned.
The second point relates to my concern with the use of techniques or
methodologies in reaching for the hearts of people. Management is fraught
with manipulative techniques, many of which eventually backfire and get us
in trouble. Strategic management maneuvers resources (including people)
according to a plan to obtain a specific goal. Pretty innocent stuff, it
seems. Except people, eventually, don't enjoy being maneuvered.
In a strictly military sense, strategy is "generalship; the science or art
of combining and employing the means of war in planning and directing
large military movements and operations."
Good leaders employ strategies, and strategic managers. Your posting
intrigued me, though, Winfried. I think considering the aspects of
strategic leadership as substantially different from strategic management
would make an interesting academic study. I also believe that the
leadership ability to inspire confidence, build trust, and be authentic
reduces the use of artificial techniques designed to manipulate. There's
a reason why a soldier will more likely accept a dangerous mission from a
good leader than he will a good manager. That's the same reason why
managers are more likely to have to resort to coercion or manipulation to
accomplish the same mission.
I hope to hear more about how your course is developing.
yours for continuous learning,
Doc
-- Richard C. "Doc" Holloway Visit me at <http://www.thresholds.com/> Or e-mail me at <mailto:learnshops@thresholds.com>Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2361 Phone:01 360 786 0925 Olympia, WA 98507 USA Fax: 01 360 709 4361
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