Strategic Leadership and Personal Wellness with Rich Horwath

In this episode, we explore the principles of strategic leadership and personal wellness with Rich Horwath, CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute and author of Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence. Rich joins us for an insightful conversation on how leaders can enhance their strategic awareness, focusing on the connection between self-care and peak leadership performance and the importance of cultivating a team culture geared for success. His book provides the framework for our discussion, offering practical strategies for leaders aiming to excel in both strategy and well-being.

Throughout our conversation, Rich draws on his vast experiences and passion for coaching to illuminate the path for out-thinking the competition. His personal stories, intertwined with a love for sports, provide a unique lens through which we can understand the nuances of executive development and the relationship between strategy and wellness. Join us for this enriching discussion that will bolster your leadership fitness in mental toughness, time management, and self-care. Enjoy!

Strategic Leadership and Personal Wellness

Rich Horwath is a seasoned expert in executive coaching and strategic thinking. Throughout our conversation, we highlight the following essential points about strategic leadership and personal wellness.

Self Care

All good leaders practice self-care to enhance their ability to set strategic direction and provide greater value. Horwath shares his personal journey from strategic planning to individual strategic development, incorporating anecdotes from his love for competition and sports. These stories underscore how strategic thinking can shape executive coaching and leadership development. We also discuss the challenges faced by leadership teams with a focus on the need for emotional intelligence and a holistic approach to self-care.

Innovation

As our conversation progresses, Horwath delves into specific behaviors that foster innovation within leadership. Drawing from the experiences of a healthcare company’s executive team, he highlights the transformative power of embracing failures, conducting after-action reviews, and adjusting attitudes towards risk. By encouraging open dialogue and adaptive interpersonal interactions, leaders can establish an environment ripe for innovation, learning, and growth.

Competitive Edge

We further examine the multifaceted nature of leadership as Horwath introduces the Strategic Quotient and ‘contextual radar’ exercises. These tools are designed to assist leaders in staying agile and maintaining a competitive edge. Horwath’s real-world examples illustrate how high-potential individuals at various organizational levels can inspire senior executives to adopt innovative strategies and influence team dynamics positively.

Fitness

When it comes to development, leadership skills are similar to athletic training. We advocate for a daily mental workout that includes performance statements, visualization techniques, and identity statements. Horwath explains how a strategic fitness system with specific workouts for leaders can enhance performance, and the significance of keeping these exercises fresh to ensure continuous improvement in strategic thinking.

Your Strategic Leadership and Personal Wellness

Our conversation with Rich is a treasure trove of insights for leaders looking to master the art of strategic leadership and personal wellness. How can we help you on your leadership and wellness journey? Connect with me at nathan@leadershipvisionconsulting.com.