Clutch Leadership: Harnessing the Qualities of a Gamechanger (Innovative Leadership Series)

Today’s organizational leaders contend with a considerable array of potentially profound disruptive forces. Emerging information management and creation tools like AI and robotics, in conjunction with economic swings, global manufacturing shifts, and political instabilities, are creating immeasurable effects on business strategies and leadership practices. Transforming short-term challenges into long-term opportunities requires rising to the occasion, or what we call "clutch leadership." We believe that all leaders have it in them to be "clutch leaders!" Such is the thrust of this book.

Clutch leaders have the skills to manage disruptions, break down silos, and align people around a compelling vision of success that represents a shift from "strategic fit" (matching resources and capabilities with opportunities) to "strategic stretch" (leveraging industry positioning to create competitive advantage). They create a productive and motivating sense of urgency and high aspiration in the organization during times of increased stakes. Clutch leaders build consensus in support of high-stakes decisions and model the way with a combination of confidence, capability, and conviction. Focusing on impact during disruptive times enables clutch leaders to harness the full potential of organizational resources beyond strategic fit, even if it requires a temporary push of skills and behaviors to extremes or taking on additional risks and opportunities (strategic stretch).

What makes clutch leadership unique is the focus on "temporary imbalance" – the suspension of trade-offs between staying in the comfort zone versus playing to one’s tried and true strengths – until the gap is closed or until the new vision and reality are realigned through innovation and leverage. Clutch leaders’ distinctive ability to balance high-stress, big picture thinking with composure, agility, attention to detail, and strong logical reasoning with communication skills and empathy allows them to navigate fast-paced, challenging situations quickly and successfully.

Numerous case studies are also included to illustrate innovative leadership techniques and applications.

Alan T. Belasen, Ph.D., has over 30 years of experience in professional, management, and leadership development. He led the design and implementation of the MBA and executive programs in management, global leadership, and healthcare leadership at SUNY Empire State College. Dr. Belasen has published many journal articles and book chapters on topics such as executive education, hospital leadership, quality of care, crisis leadership, healthcare communication, and women’s leadership. Dr. Belasen has authored or co-authored numerous books including Brilliant Leadership: Unlocking the Power of Innovation-Communication (Routledge, 2024); Transforming Leadership, Improving the Patient Experience (Routledge, 2024); Resilience in Healthcare Leadership: Practical Strategies and Self-Assessment Tools for Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses (Routledge, 2022); Dyad Leadership and Clinical Integration: Driving Change, Aligning Strategies (HAP, 2019); and Women in Management: A Framework for Sustainable Work-life Integration (Routledge, 2017). He is the recipient of the International Accreditation Council for Business Education’s 2017 John L. Green Award for Excellence in Business Education, and the 2014-2015 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Scholarship and Creative Activities.

Barry Eisenberg, Ph.D. has forty years of experience in healthcare management, consulting, and higher education. He established and directed a management development program at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and later served as vice president of human resources and vice president of operations at Union Hospital in New Jersey. In addition to directing SUNY Empire State College’s MBA in Healthcare Leadership, Dr. Eisenberg consults with health care organizations on strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, market expansion, and board of directors’ development. Dr. Eisenberg is co-author of Transforming Leadership, Improving the Patient Experience (Routledge, 2024); and Mastering Leadership: A Vital Resource for Healthcare Organizations (Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2015). He also maintains a blog which addresses health issues, among many others, with a wide distribution: https://barryeisenbergauthor.com/blog. Dr. Eisenberg serves on the boards of nonprofit organizations dedicated to expanding access to scholarship, social justice, and promoting arts education.