Jump before being pushed
For most leaders there comes a time when it is time to move on, often for a new challenge, a change of direction or even retirement. But what happens when the reason is all-together less positive? Stephen Walker looks at what happens when a leader loses their authority. Sooner or later it comes to us […]
Authentic leadership
How is the health of leadership research? What is the prognosis for independent trainers and coaches? Few are better equipped to provide a diagnosis than professor Dame Sandra Dawson. In this exclusive interview, Mike Levy asks her about authentic leadership, the skills to make leaders ‘great’, and the future for leadership development. Dame Sandra Dawson, […]
Review: Sustainable Leadership diagnostic tool
Graham O’Connell reviews a new diagnostic tool called Sustainable Leadership, which allows you to self assess your social responsibility levels. Title: Sustainable leadership Questionnaire Author: Roy Howells Publisher: Management Learning Resources Price: £5.25 (A facilitator guide is also available at £22.50) Reviewer: Graham O’Connell Campaigner Jonathan Porritt recently wrote about the ‘Perfect Storm’ of environmental and economic […]
Transformative leadership critical to success
A new report published this week has revealed that transformative and collaborative leadership is critical to creating the conditions for innovation. The Leading Innovation report produced by the Whitehall Innovation Hub suggests that civil service leaders need to create opportunities for policy-makers to reconnect to the front-line and that this transformation involves government officials having […]
Review: The Successful Manager’s Handbook
John Pope reviews The Successful Managers’ Handbook – and wishes he had had a book like this when he first started as a junior manager. Title: The Successful Manager’s Handbook Author: Moi Ali and 12 other writers, with an introduction by Robert Heller Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd. 2002 and brought up-to-date March 2009. Price: […]
Book review: Servant Leadership Across Cultures
With the concept of servant leadership gathering momentum, Bob Selden reviews a new book designed to dissect the philosophy and explain its benefits. Title: Servant-Leadership Across Cultures: Harnessing the strength of the world’s most powerful leadership philosophy Authors: Fons Trompenaars and Ed Voerman Publisher: Infinite Ideas Limited, Oxford, 2009 Price: £20 Reviewer: Bob Selden ‘Good […]
Gordon Brown: Who’s sorry now?
Paul Bridle looks at the fine mess that Gordon Brown has got himself into, which he attributes to Brown’s lack of leadership ‘style’. One of the measures of good leadership is the leader’s ability to ensure succession. This means that should something unfortunate happen, the organisation has the necessary leadership to take it forward. We now understand why […]
Learning leadership in tough times
Nigel Paine, former head of Learning and Development at the BBC, and a regular TrainingZone contributor, is leading a one-day open workshop for learning professionals in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Group. ‘Learning leadership in tough times’ will take place on 2nd July in west London. Nigel left the BBC in September 2006 to […]
Why leadership training doesn’t work
Having effective and productive leaders are imperative for an organisation’s success. But, as Judith Germain highlights, leadership training has historically made several common mistakes. When the business environment becomes more challenging companies tend to concentrate on hard measures such as reducing costs, increasing profits and downsizing – often ignoring the sometimes intangible measures such as management’s […]
Video: Lord Bilimoria – mission and vision
There are many important elements in leadership, but mission and vision are amongst the most critical. Lord Bilimoria, founder and CEO of Cobra Beer, presents ideas and sources of inspiration to help you understand and devise them for yourself. Lord Bilimoria started his career at Ernst & Young in 1982, where he spent four years […]
David Fairhurst interview: Complex times require complex leaders
Leadership development is on everybody’s lips, but with so many leadership models and debate over the qualities of an ideal leader, many firms are in a state of confusion. Who better to provide some clarity than one of the industry’s leading lights, David Fairhurst. At the HRD conference and exhibition earlier this year, leadership development dominated the […]
The language of leadership
The ability to speak well can mark the difference between leadership success and failure. Martha Leyton and Martin Shovel of CreativityWorks specialise in helping people in leadership roles become inspiring speakers – and they’re here to answer your questions. Question: Last year I went to the annual conference of my professional body and was blown away […]
Recovering from the recession
A skilled workforce will be crucial to aid businesses in their recovery from the recession. And it would seem that the majority of business leaders recognise that continued workforce development is an imperative, according to Ruth Spellman. As the recession continues to take its toll, the temptation to continue to make cuts and focus only […]
Review: The Leadership Secrets of Genghis Khan
Title: The Leadership Secrets of Genghis KhanAuthor: John ManPublisher: Bantam Press Reviewer: John Pope John Man has written one of the most interesting books on leadership and management that I have ever read. He uses Genghis Khan as an example of a truly great leader and tells the story of his spectacular rise to power […]
Challenging leadership principles
The Christian movement continues 2,000 years after its inception, so its leader must have said something enduring. Therefore, by examining his reported words in the gospels, can we derive leadership principles that all leaders can learn and benefit from? Stuart Emmett believes so. My book “The Leadership Gospels” (2008) uses the gospels as a key […]
As a leader, are you in control?
When things go wrong, do you think that it is fate, luck, the system – or is failure, and success, all down to you? Bob Selden looks at how we think about who is ‘in charge’ – our Locus of Control – also affects the way that we lead. When the going gets tough, we […]
Leadership development in the brave new world
The economic downturn has demonstrated spectacular shortcomings in the abilities of some business leaders, especially in the financial sector. In turn this has raised questions about the efficacy of leadership development and training. Fiona Nicholson finds out what has gone wrong and what 21st century leadership development should really look like. In more prosperous times, […]
Is servant leadership the answer to the recession?
The idea that leaders and managers must serve their people if they are to create highly successful organisations is not new. Ken Blanchard – a high profile supporter of the servant leadership concept – explains why leading with humility could be the key to surviving and thriving during the current economic crisis. If you want […]
Review: Throwing sheep & Grown Up Digital
Title: Grown up Digital Author: Don TapscottPublisher: McGraw Hill The recent explosion of mainstream media stories about Twitter (see our Twitter guide here) shows both the fascination we have with the collaborative/communicative internet of web 2.0, and the fear – in some parts – that it is unpredictable, out of control and potentially dangerous. Two […]
Naked simplicity: The David Taylor interview
Mike Levy talks to David Taylor, author of ‘The Naked Leader’ and leadership visionary, about getting back to basics and fresh thinking on leadership. This article was previously published on LeadershipZone. David Taylor is a leadership guru who hates the ‘g’ word. This isn’t just lack of hubris. Taylor eschews the notion of gurus and […]