ABSTRACT

The inherent external and internal unpredictability is often aggravated by the strategic desire to be disruptive. Yet, setting strategic goals is inherently challenging, as the media management team experienced, because environments and organizations are constantly in flux. Setting strategically appropriate goals for an organization is difficult enough in itself, but leaders have the additional challenge that strategic goals serve two very different psychological needs of followers. Leaders leaning over to the side of idealism have a visionary leadership style, as they outline an inspirational and challenging long-term vision, far beyond the organization's current capabilities. To meet the desire for idealism, leaders need to set strategic goals that are ambitious and stretching, almost unimaginable. Leaders emphasizing realism over idealism have a pragmatic leadership style, as they make clear to others what can be, and needs to be, done.