Introduction. One of the pressing problems in the Russian economy is a very noticeable imbalance in regional development, which significantly slows down the realization of its potential. The worsening difference has quite tangible consequences, which affects the weakening the multinational people unity, and the intensification of migration processes, and the uneven internal demographic dynamics, social attitudes in the society, and the life quality of residents of a particular region. The problem must be solved fundamentally, that is why it is extremely important to pay great attention to the development of strategic thinking of a leader at all levels of management (federal, regional, municipal, corporate).
Materials and Methods. The research, that is primarily of theoretical nature, used appropriate theoretical (analysis, synthesis, comparison, extrapolation, generalization, systematization, abstraction) and empirical (observation, measurement) methods. The materials included regulatory documents, research results, statistical data, public statements by officials, government projects and programs, results of public opinion research, and expert assessments. A systematic approach was taken as the methodological basis.
Results and Conclusions. In the course of the work, theoretical and methodological approaches and key conditions for the development of strategic thinking of the head at all key levels of management (federal, regional, municipal, corporate) have been identified and substantiated. The research question that formed the hypothesis of the study was the definition of the role and place of strategic thinking of a modern leader in regional development, as well as the conditions for increasing its effectiveness. The study has demonstrated that fundamental changes are possible only when making strategic decisions that allow not only to determine the principles and priorities of the public policy, but also to launch the necessary flows of events aimed at maximizing the socio-economic potential of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
Discussion. The results have been discussed in the expert community, during which it was proposed to radically change the approaches to teaching strategic management in the context of modern leadership training. The discussion of the current situation demonstrated that the vast majority of managers at almost all levels and in all industries are more focused on tactical and operational management, while an extremely small proportion of senior staff are engaged in solving strategic issues requiring large-scale, systematic, multidisciplinary approaches. This circumstance underlines the importance and necessity of clarifying the true causes of this phenomenon, which significantly slows down the development of the economy and production.