Strategic Leadership at the Crossroads of Power, Communication, and Change

Strategic leadership is increasingly challenged by organizational volatility, digital disruption, and shifting stakeholder expectations, exposing the limitations of hierarchical and directive leadership models. This literature review addresses these issues by examining how contemporary leaders mobilize power, communication, and change as interdependent capabilities to navigate complexity and drive transformation. Integrating discursive, distributed, and relational-ethical leadership theories, the analysis highlights the critical roles of sensemaking, psychological safety, and empowerment in fostering adaptive capacity and innovation. The review reveals that leaders who frame power as shared influence and use communication as a tool for alignment and narrative construction are better equipped to manage resistance, sustain engagement, and support organizational learning. Core implications point to the need for leadership development models that prioritize participatory approaches, communicative agility, and context-sensitive decision-making—particularly in crisis-prone and emerging market environments where adaptability and relational trust are paramount for long-term resilience and strategic success.