How to Become a Strategic Business Leader: Insights from Kaplan

How to Become a Strategic Business Leader: Insights from Kaplan

As the global business landscape becomes more complex and competitive, companies face the challenge of finding leaders who can navigate through a rapidly-changing environment and drive sustainable growth. In this article, we will explore how to become a strategic business leader and share insights from Kaplan, a leading provider of educational and professional development programs.

What is Strategic Leadership?

Strategic leadership is the ability to anticipate, adapt, and execute a comprehensive plan that aligns with the organization’s vision, values, and goals. It involves a combination of skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, innovation, and risk management. A strategic leader is someone who can see the big picture, think outside the box, inspire others, and make tough decisions that drive results.

The Benefits of Strategic Leadership

A strategic leader can help a company in many ways, including:

• Aligning the organization’s strategy with its goals and values
• Maximizing the use of resources and minimizing waste
• Fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
• Building a strong brand reputation and customer loyalty
• Attracting and retaining top talent
• Winning new markets and increasing profitability

The Role of Education in Developing Strategic Leaders

Developing strategic leadership skills requires a combination of education, training, and experience. Kaplan offers a range of programs designed to help individuals acquire and enhance these skills, including:

• Executive MBA programs that integrate business administration skills with a strategic leadership curriculum
• Certificate programs that focus on specific areas such as innovation, entrepreneurship, and change management
• Online courses and webinars that allow learners to study at their own pace and convenience
• Customized training programs that are tailored to the company’s needs and goals

Case Study: How Kaplan Helped a Healthcare Company Develop Strategic Leaders

A healthcare company faced the challenge of finding leaders who could manage the company’s growth and align its operations with its vision and values. Kaplan worked with the company to develop a customized training program that focused on strategic leadership skills, such as:

• Strategic planning and execution
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Effective communication and collaboration
• Innovation and change management
• Risk management and decision-making

The program included a combination of online courses, instructor-led workshops, and coaching sessions. The company’s leaders reported significant improvement in their strategic leadership skills, which resulted in:

• Increased productivity and efficiency
• Higher employee satisfaction and retention
• Better customer service and satisfaction
• Improved financial performance and market share

Conclusion

In today’s fast-paced and complex business environment, becoming a strategic leader is essential for achieving long-term success. By developing and enhancing strategic leadership skills, individuals can help their organizations navigate through challenges and opportunities and achieve sustainable growth. Kaplan offers a range of educational and professional development programs designed to help individuals and companies become strategic leaders.