The Strategic Pause: Adaptive Leadership for County Executives

Duration 3 Weeks (Executive Short Course – flexible delivery)
Cost 5,000
Target Audience

This course is designed for:

  • County Governors in Kenya
  • Deputy Governors and senior county executives
  • Policy and governance advisors supporting devolved government
  • Senior leaders in public service navigating adaptive challenges
  • Senior civil servants and public-sector leaders
  • Executives of state-owned enterprises
  • Officials from public bodies and government agencies

This course, The Strategic Pause: Adaptive Leadership for County Executives, is designed to equip county governors and senior public leaders with the mindset and skills required to lead effectively in complex, fast-changing, and politically sensitive government environments.

The course focuses on mastering the concept of the strategic pause—the disciplined ability to step back, observe systems, interpret signals, and reflect before acting. Participants will learn how to pause strategically in moments of crisis, pressure, or uncertainty in order to make clear, timely, and adaptive leadership decisions.

The ultimate purpose is to strengthen adaptive leadership capacity among county executives, enabling them to navigate turbulence, align policy with citizen needs, manage competing stakeholder interests, and lead sustainable transformation in devolved governance.

What you will learn:

By the end of the 3 weeks, participants will be able to:

  • Apply the strategic pause as a practical leadership and governance tool
  • Lead effectively under political pressure, crisis, and uncertainty
  • Distinguish technical problems from adaptive challenges in county governance
  • Make informed, ethical, and citizen-centred decisions
  • Improve policy alignment, stakeholder engagement, and accountability
  • Strengthen resilience, judgment, and leadership presence
  • Navigate transitions, reforms, and public expectations with clarity and confidence