Basic Leadership Model

Leadership is a popular topic – there are currently over 8000 books available on aspects of leadership. Leaders of large multi-nationals are often held up as examples of good leaders - but does this mean that leadership is only relevant to such large companies? Latest thinking on leadership recommends that leadership skills are required for managers of any size of organisation or group, from a small two or three person company, through supervisors of teams, to owners and managers of small and medium sized businesses.

Here we define leadership as the process of moving a group (or groups) of people in some direction, by being clear about the direction they want to go, getting this message over clearly and getting the staff energetically supporting the process to achieve this change.

In contrast, we see management as concerned with planning, implementing, controlling and using resources, typically on a day-to-day basis.

We have carried out a research project funded by The Sector Skills Development Agency, in conjunction with The Skills for Business Network and led by CITB Construction Skills. This is the first phase of the development of a new leadership model aimed at addressing the needs of SMEs across all Sectors of British Industry.

Henley Management College have conducted the research on our behalf.

Their report is posted on this website.