The strategical leadership in Iraq means political leadership strategies and these much depend on objectives and paradigms of ruling party and top executives in Government ofcourse in consultation with business leadership.

Necessary Components for Successful Strategic Leadership in Iraq

1. Vision and Nation-Oriented Strategy

Leaders must articulate a clear, inclusive national vision that transcends sectarian, ethnic, and regional divides.

Long-term strategy should focus on stability, economic diversification (beyond oil), and institutional development.

Aligning short-term decisions with this larger vision is critical in Iraq’s volatile environment.

2. Inclusive Governance and Coalition-Building

Iraq’s political system is highly fragmented, so effective leaders need to balance competing interests among Shia, Sunni, Kurdish, and minority groups.

Strategic leaders must excel at power-sharing, negotiation, and consensus-building while avoiding zero-sum politics.

Building trust among diverse stakeholders reduces risks of conflict and instability.

3. Institutional Strengthening and Rule of Law

Success requires commitment to strengthening state institutions (civil service, judiciary, security forces) rather than relying on patronage networks.

Leaders must uphold rule of law, anti-corruption mechanisms, and transparent resource management.

Strategic leadership should prioritize reducing the influence of militias over state structures.

4. Security and Stability Management

Given Iraq’s history of conflict, leaders must integrate security strategy with political and economic policies.

Coordinating military, police, and intelligence institutions while respecting civilian authority is crucial.

Building regional and international security partnerships helps stabilize the environment.

5. Economic Vision and Resource Management

Oil is Iraq’s backbone, but overreliance is risky. Leaders must diversify into agriculture, industry, and services.

Strategic leaders should design resource-sharing frameworks to reduce disputes between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Investment in infrastructure, job creation, and entrepreneurship fosters stability and reduces youth unrest.

6. Cultural Intelligence and Social Cohesion

Iraq’s mosaic of tribes, religions, and ethnicities requires leaders to practice cultural sensitivity and avoid exclusionary rhetoric.

Strategic leaders should promote national identity alongside local identities.

Empowering civil society, women, and youth helps consolidate long-term peace and development.

7. Adaptability and Crisis Management

Iraq faces recurrent crises (terrorism, oil price fluctuations, protests). Successful leaders must show flexibility, resilience, and rapid decision-making.

Ability to learn from past conflicts (2003–2017 insurgencies, ISIS crisis) and apply adaptive policies is essential.

8. International and Regional Diplomacy

Iraq is caught between U.S., Iran, Turkey, and Gulf states’ interests.

Strategic leaders must skillfully balance external influences while protecting national sovereignty.

Building alliances with international financial institutions and development partners helps secure long-term investment and aid.

9. Ethical Leadership and Anti-Corruption

Corruption is one of Iraq’s greatest obstacles. Successful strategic leaders must demonstrate personal integrity, transparency, and accountability.

Embedding anti-corruption into governance systems strengthens legitimacy and public trust.

10. Human Capital Development

Investing in education, health, and training builds future leadership capacity.

Encouraging innovation and digital transformation equips Iraq to compete regionally.

1. Vision and Strategic Direction

Clear national and organizational vision aligned with Iraq’s long-term goals (stability, reconstruction, economic diversification).

Leaders must articulate realistic strategies to guide ministries, institutions, and businesses.

2. Good Governance and Integrity

Transparency, accountability, and rule of law are essential to overcome corruption.

In spite of being old, the following research paper may help you out as regards the components for building successful strategic leadership:

Achieving and maintaining strategic competitiveness in the 21st century: The role of strategic leadership

RD Ireland, MA Hitt - Academy of Management Perspectives, 2005 - journals.aom.org

Ketegasan, keberanian dan kejujuran untuk bisa menjadi pemimpin irak yg kaya akan sumber daya alam

Dina Mohammed Jabr Alrubaiy Building successful strategic leadership in Iraq requires a combination of key components. First, inclusive political leadership is essential, as leaders must unite Iraq's diverse ethnic and sectarian groups, ensuring all have a voice in the political process. Strengthening institutions like the judiciary, military, and civil service is also crucial for upholding the rule of law and reducing corruption. Effective security management, with coordinated efforts between the military and police, is necessary to maintain stability and respond to internal and external threats. Economic diversification beyond oil is another critical factor for long-term stability, focusing on sectors like agriculture, education, and infrastructure. Lastly, building strong diplomatic ties with neighboring countries and global allies is key to enhancing Iraq's security and economic standing. In my opinion, these components are interdependent and must be pursued together to create a resilient and effective leadership framework for Iraq. "Unity is strength" – only by working collectively can Iraq achieve lasting stability and growth.