Starbuck Academy · Grow
Strategy and Vision
Leading with direction, clarity and purpose
A practical online programme for senior leaders who want to set clear direction and build a team that delivers it. Ten short video lessons, each with a practical tool and a workplace task, so your thinking turns into action.
Strategy is part of every leader’s job
Strategy is not only for the board. Every leader shapes where their part of the organisation is heading, through the choices they make and the ones they avoid. This programme gives you a simple, practical way to understand where you are, create a vision people believe in, turn it into a strategy, build and set up the right team, and lead through change. It finishes by showing you how to keep your strategy alive long after launch.
Who it is for
Senior leaders, heads of department and leadership teams who are responsible for setting direction. It suits people stepping into a bigger strategic role as well as experienced leaders setting a new direction.
What you will be able to do
By the end of this programme you will be able to:
- Explain the difference between managing and leading, and protect regular time to think strategically
- Build an honest picture of where your area stands today, from the outside in and the inside out
- Create a clear, compelling vision and test it with the people who will deliver it
- Turn your vision into three to five priorities, including what to stop, on a single-page strategy
- Build and set up a team with the capabilities, roles and ways of working your strategy needs
- Communicate your strategy as a story, align goals and measures, and keep it alive through a regular review rhythm
Ten lessons
The leader as strategist
Managing and leading, what strategy really is, and protecting time to think.
Understanding where you are now
Building an honest picture of where you are, from the outside in and the inside out.
Creating a compelling vision
The four qualities of a vision people believe in, and how to shape and test it.
Turning vision into strategy
Choosing three to five priorities, deciding what to stop, and your strategy on a page.
Building the right team
Mapping the capabilities your strategy needs, and whether to develop, recruit or partner.
Setting up the team for success
Clear roles and decisions, agreed ways of working, trust and a team charter.
Communicating the strategy
Telling your strategy as a story, answering what it means for me, and checking it has landed.
Aligning goals and measures
Good goals, measures that matter, and line of sight for every person in your team.
Leading through change and setbacks
Holding direction firmly and the plan lightly, learning from setbacks and supporting people.
Keeping strategy alive
A review rhythm, keeping the vision visible, and growing as a strategic leader.
What is included
Ten short video lessons you can watch on any device, workbook pages and a practical tool for every lesson, the full Strategy and Vision workbook and toolkit to download, a five-question knowledge check per lesson, a certificate of completion showing 6 estimated learning hours, and 12 months’ access.
How your learning time adds up
Your 6 estimated learning hours are made up across ten lessons of about 36 minutes each:
- Watching the ten short lesson videos: about 30 minutes (about 3 minutes each)
- Reading the lesson notes and workbook pages: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Working through the practical tool for each lesson: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Planning and carrying out each workplace task: about 1 hour 40 minutes (10 minutes each)
- Completing the five-question knowledge check after each lesson: about 30 minutes (3 minutes each)
Total: 6 estimated learning hours.
Knowledge checks: every lesson or module ends with a short multiple choice knowledge check. The pass mark is 80% and you can retake a knowledge check as many times as you need.
Who designed it
This programme was designed by ICF credentialed coaches at Starbuck & Associates, led by Paul Starbuck, our Founder and CEO and an ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC). Every lesson draws on our coaching and leadership development work with organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world, and each programme is reviewed regularly to keep it current.
Before you start
This programme is general learning and development content and is not professional advice. Always follow your own organisation’s policies, and take specialist advice on legal, financial or HR matters.
