Response to Peer Post (15)
Response to Peer Post
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Response to Peer Post
I did like your discussion post because you present intriguing thoughts three strategic leaders, who either anticipated or failed to anticipate an impending change, thereby taking or failing to take advantage of the situation. About the spread of the current COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, you mention that a majority of global authorities did not react proactively when they were warned about impending threats emanating from this pandemic. Particularly, I do agree with you that influential leaders failed to be proactive in anticipating the looming severity of the coronavirus, hence failing to demonstrate one of the six essential skills for strategic leaders outlined by Schoemaker, Krupp, and Howland (2013), namely, the ability to anticipate. For this cause, leaders such as President Donald Trump ultimately failed in implementing restrictions and other preventive measures that could have at least moderated the severity of COVID-19.
You acknowledge that as a strategic leader, Barak Obama successfully anticipated possibilities of gender inequality when it comes to health insurance premiums. He took advantage of this situation to endorse and ratify the Affordable Care Act 2010 to ensure equality for all. Lastly, I agree with you that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and CEO, was also successful in anticipating the transition from traditional mortar stores to the e-commerce industry, which allowed him to create a platform that has become very fruitful. Thank you for these great suggestions as they reflect how prominent strategic leaders can either fail or succeed in their decisions and action or indecisions and inactions.
References
Schoemaker, P. J., Krupp, S., & Howland, S. (2013). Strategic leadership: The essential skills. Harvard Business Review, 91(1), 131-134.
