Leaders are inevitably faced with crisis. Events arrive and derail years of progress made by an organization. As a result, leaders must develop a leadership style that prepares an organization for unexpected circumstances. In international affairs, a strategy called Smart Power exists for this reason. With modifications, this strategy could be deployed in the workplace. When using Smart Power, leaders should focus their efforts on identifying key talents of their staff, understanding threats to productivity, and implementing strategic communication.

Implementing Smart Power

While applying Smart Power as a leadership strategy for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), a leader must have a clear understanding of the soft and hard power of a leader. Soft power is the ability to influence and engage others through communication, and hard power is where a directive is clear. Smart Power is a combination of both strategies. Business leaders must be prepared for unexpected circumstances. The leadership style of Smart Power could help organizations navigate complicated situations and develop employee skillsets in the process.

Developing a Collaboration Culture

One must be aware of the organizational mission and staff skills when using this strategy. Leaders should seek to transform the shortcomings of their employees with the proper resources and allow them to grow as individuals.

In addition to this, leaders must be able to grapple with threats in both the short and long term. One such strategy is to develop a framework that cultivates input directly from those in the field, allowing those in leadership to take quick and decisive action prior to a major problem leading to crisis. Leaders must construct a culture of collaboration among employees. This allows leaders to address problems before they consume the organization.

Today’s leaders are often faced with unpredictable and unrueing circumstances which can derail an organization. They must develop a leadership style that adequately addresses this nature. By developing a Smart Power mindset, leaders will be well equipped to better their organization, and thrive in times of challenge.