Professional Development
What is your Strategic Quotient (SQ)?

The Importance of Strategic Leadership in Business
In the world of business, being labeled as “tactical” is not a compliment that leads to senior leadership roles. The real accolade that leaders strive for is to be considered “strategic.” Research shows that 97 percent of senior executives believe that strategic leadership is crucial for an organization’s future success. In fact, a strategic approach to leadership is considered ten times more important than any other factor studied.
Expert Opinions on Strategic Leadership
Industry experts and academic leaders echo the importance of strategic acumen:
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- Indra Nooyi, former CEO of Pepsi, believes that strategic acumen is the most critical skill for CEOs today.
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- Professors from Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management highlight the importance of learning to become better strategic thinkers.
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- Research on board members of companies shows that strategic expertise is the most sought-after characteristic in active CEOs.
Defining Strategic Leadership
But what does it mean to be “strategic”? In essence, being strategic involves having insight that leads to advantage. This insight is gained by combining information in unique ways to create new value for the business. Strategic thinking is about planning and acting in ways that prioritize initiatives and drive the organization forward.
Strategic leadership involves three core disciplines:
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- Acumen (Thinking): Generating insights to create new value.
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- Allocation (Planning): Concentrating resources through strategic trade-offs.
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- Action (Acting): Prioritizing and executing initiatives.
Assessing Your Strategic Quotient
To determine your level of strategic capabilities, you can take the Strategic Quotient (SQ) Assessment. This assessment evaluates how you strategically think, plan, and act. The SQ Assessment consists of 50 statements that gauge your strategic mindset and behaviors.
By understanding your strategic strengths and areas for improvement, you can enhance your strategic leadership skills. Remember, in today’s competitive business landscape, being strategic is essential for success.
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