ENGAGING YOUR SENIOR TEAM 161and how, push it back toward why and what - if. Pressing against
boundaries is developmental and a good source of learning
(McCarthy, 2000).
Make Strategy Conscious
In Chapter One , we defi ned leadership strategy as the organiza-
tion ’ s approach to advancing the leadership culture, practices,
and people systems necessary for future success. It ’ s about what
leadership needs to look like and be collectively capable of
doing and how it will be developed in an organization.
We ’ ve said that leadership strategy shows up, consciously
or not, in the organization ’ s choices about leadership culture
and in its beliefs and practices (see Illustration 7.1 ). The strat-
egy also shows up in the kind of people, or talent, systems the
senior team chooses to manage leadership development. This
all has tremendous implications for your leadership develop-
ment systems and programs — but it is much more than that.
Illustration 7.1 Culture Is the Elephant in the RoomSource: Bruce Flye. Used with permission.