Smart Leadership: Driving Strategy through Innovation and Vision

Introduction:

Competing in the global industries of the new century requires smart leadership, strategic planning, and innovation. Competitive advantage can be achieved through new programs, products, or services that are born from fresh ideas. As routine tasks become automated and the competitive landscape becomes more dynamic, creative problem-solving and innovation will be vital for business leaders to succeed.

Smart leadership is the art of generating new and valuable ideas that have never been heard of. It calls upon leaders to take these ideas into action. However, to do so, smart leadership must create an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive while simultaneously overcoming the institutional resistance to change that is inherently part of innovative processes.

This conference on smart leadership, strategy, and innovation focuses on human capital development (people), business processes (processes), and organizational practices (practices) that nurture creativity. The aim is to develop superior methods and services that surpass those offered by competitors.

Achieving essential “buy-in” from all employees and elevating strategic planning execution will be key topics covered during this training session. This will enable organizations to translate successful strategies into actionable steps, capturing the momentum needed to drive strategic initiatives—this foundational phase is the core substance of our training.

Objectives:

At the end of this Smart Leadership, Strategy, and Innovation Conference, participants will be able to:

• Integrate creativity and innovation into a strategic framework.
• Understand the drivers behind the increasing emphasis on creative thinking and innovation in business.
• Identify processes and activities within organizations that enhance creativity and innovation.
• Apply strategies, tools, and techniques to boost creativity and innovation levels.
• Understand how the change process can either hinder or motivate employees at different organizational levels to support innovative thinking.
• Appreciate the importance of having a leader who encourages creativity within their team.
• Develop the skills required to become a strategic leader capable of fostering innovation within their organization.
• Increase the ability to continuously implement effective improvement initiatives.
• Enhance personal, organizational, and team capacities for generating new concepts.
• Improve executive performance in terms of innovative practices and functions.
• Increase motivation while retaining full workforce commitment.
• More effectively address challenges resulting from dynamic, strategic changes.

Training Methodology:

• Situation-Based Learning
• Logistical Problem-Solving on the Spot
• Team-Based Creative Idea Generation
• Design Thinking Workshops
• Strategy Creation Practices
• Creative Challenges
• Large-Scale Leadership Discussions
• Reflective Journaling
• Mentoring and Coaching Sessions
• Theory-to-Practice Sessions with Live Demonstrations
• Audience Debates on Various Issues

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Fostering a Creative Environment at Work

• Innovative leadership for top-notch performance
• Understanding the tipping point of change and innovation
• Innovation versus continuous improvement
• How to create an environment conducive to innovation
• Leadership and innovation as contemporary business turning points

Unit 2: Engaging the Workforce

• The General Electric “Workout” Strategy
• Developing innovative solutions for strategy formulation
• Gaining buy-in from employees
• Overcoming mental models
• Addressing organizational drifts
• Case Study: Empowerment gained, not given

Unit 3: Leading on the Creative Edge

• Developing creativity in individuals and teams
• Understanding creative personalities
• Convergent and divergent thinking abilities
• Motivating creativity in the workplace
• Incubating ideas
• Interacting creatively
• Transforming costs into assets through creativity

Unit 4: Creating a Motivating Climate for Higher Productivity

• The ten ingredients for launching new initiatives
• Setting goals and targets creatively
• Creating meaning and rewarding results
• Understanding the Four-Step Pygmalion Theory
• Generational motivators

Unit 5: Driving Strategic Change

• Executing change processes
• Kotter’s technique for managing change
• Effective communication during change
• Addressing challenges that come with change
• Building a culture of change
• Techniques for successful people change