ABSTRACT
The end of the Cold War some twenty years ago was the catalyst for fundamental change, the extent and ramifications of which encompass key aspects of national and international activity. This chapter offers three resultant shifts to exemplify this transformed global environment. First, national interests in the sphere of strategic-level business have all but disappeared. Second, in the military sphere, the authors' own experience clearly points up that high-pace development and the speedy delivery of capability are of the essence: the demand for its use is more immediate than ever before. Third, underpinning this move towards more dynamic delivery of capability is the shift away from large, static-footprint military operations to more expeditionary, Special Forces-like operations. That a strategic leader should lead from the front is axiomatic. Discussion of a results-oriented approach leads naturally to consideration of performance objectives – both individual ones and those of the team.
