Move between the balcony and the dance floor to think strategically rather than only react operationally
Build the strategic awareness, planning discipline and decision-making skills of an effective strategic leader. Explore practical tools for problem solving, good decision-making and strategic analysis, and learn how to apply them to real challenges in your own team or organisation.

What you will be able to do
- Move between the balcony and the dance floor to think strategically rather than only react operationally
- Build a strategic plan that answers where you are now, where you want to be and how you will get there
- Work through the eight-step process for solving tough workplace problems
- Apply the ten-step process for making better, more considered decisions
- Use SWOT analysis and the balanced scorecard to analyse a real strategic issue
- Set a positive, future-oriented vision that gets colleagues genuinely on board
What is inside
8 modules, 9 lessons, built to be applied at work.
Introduction
- Welcome and course overview6 min
What is strategic awareness and thinking?
- Strategic awareness and why it matters11 min
How strategic are you?
- How strategic are you: a self-check8 min
Strategic planning
- Why strategic planning matters9 min
Problem solving and decision making
- The eight steps to effective problem-solving10 min
Good decision making
- Ten steps to great decisions12 min
Strategic analysis: two tools for success
- SWOT and the balanced scorecard8 min
Final thoughts and advice
- What good strategic leaders do7 min
- Course review and final assessment6 min
A credential you can prove
Finish the course and earn a 1.5 CPD hours certificate with its own public verification page. Share it on LinkedIn or attach it to an application; anyone can check it.
Taught by someone who does the work
Education leadership consultant, Promoting Excellence Ltd
- Promoting Excellence Ltd, education leadership consultants
- Specialist in inclusive and adaptive teaching
Peter Rushton is an education leadership consultant with Promoting Excellence Ltd. He works with schools and colleges to develop inclusive cultures and excellent mixed ability teaching, drawing on the latest Ofsted framework and Education Endowment Foundation research.