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What is Organizational Leadership?
Today's modern business climate is increasingly demanding. Companies and brands are facing a growing need to find new ways to compete in the marketplace. They are therefore seeking new answers from leadership. After all, every company relies on a visionary leader who can steer them through rough seas and then maximize profits when skies are sunny.
Even those who are already department heads may benefit from training in organizational leadership. For instance, human resources professionals may benefit from being able to address bigger picture issues when it comes to hiring and training. They can also assert leadership when it comes to creating compensation packages.
Organizational leadership is a field that continues to grow as businesses seek new innovative ways to expand and develop. Part of this is an effort to balance the micro-management strategy that so many employ with an approach that is more holistic and visionary. The result is organizations that can tackle today's challenges while keeping an eye on long-term survival and success.
An organizational leader is a business professional who can formulate and promote a vision for their firm. They see the bigger picture for their industry and the wider economy, which is used to lead their firm in a fruitful, profitable direction. They are also seeking to implement their vision across their entire organization, not merely one department or product line.
Organizational leaders thus need to have a granular understanding of their organization's strengths and weaknesses. They need to be able to tailor their vision to those capabilities. This often means the ability to set shorter term goals for their company so that the bigger vision can be realized in due time. Unlike popular models of the past where leaders were primarily concerned with quarterly revenues and stock prices, organizational leaders look to build sustainable business models that will last for years, if not decades.
Organizational leaders tend to be experienced business professionals who have a deep understanding of their firm and its industry. Many have advanced degrees in business administration and academic knowledge of economics. Those who have a strong grasp of business and economic fundamentals often choose leadership for their MBA concentration, though there are no specific routes to success as an organizational leader.
Organizational leaders spend their time studying their company, its industry, and the broader economy. They need to keep their finger on the pulse of politics and legislative actions that may impact their business in the near and long term. This may be more important for some industries, such as healthcare, but these matters impact each industry in very significant ways.
Organizational leaders in for-profit businesses might be compare to their colleagues in the non-profit sector. Non-profit organizations are more concerned about their overall mission and how financial infusions can help them reach their goals. While organizational leaders in profit generating businesses certainly need to watch their finances, they are also more focused on the bigger mission and trajectory of their company.
Organizational leaders may seek positions in the C-suites of exciting corporations. Indeed, many CEOs operate in the vein of organizational leaders. Some are larger than life leaders that are known to seek counsel with leaders in both politics and business. However, they might also work outside of those firms and choose a career in consulting. They might also find work in think-tank organizations where they can essentially create templates that firms may use to succeed.
