What is Leadership? What are the qualities of a good leader? Can you learn how to lead?

"When asking what is leadership, the answer depends on what one is looking for, and from where one is looking"

This has certainly been my experience of working in organizations. Some leaders are expected to be fearless and decisive, others are expected to be collaborative and thoughtful, everyone it seems has their take on what is best.

There is certainly no shortage of advice. A simple search of Amazon will give you 50 books on the subject, and that is the first clue to a more critical look at the subject of 'Leadership'

Leadership writing and advice falls into two camps:

1. The 'Leadership Industry' camp of executive training, business school qualifications, and so called quick fix airport lounge books.

and

2. The 'What Is Leadership' camp that takes a critical look at the whole social phenomenon of leadership and attacks the Leadership Industry approach for creating a superficial and 'faddist' approach and perpetuating the mistaken belief that as Henry Mintzberg says in his 2004 book - Managers Not MBA's - "..the graduate school of business is the principal source of top executive talent"

I used to think there was a clear and simple answer to what makes a good leader. Now I'm not so sure!

Research Focus One-Day Conference – Leadership and Management

This conference is a showcase for some of the subject based and interdisciplinary research ongoing at the University centred around Leadership and Management.  Throughout the day papers will focus on cultivating leadership through learning, managing organisational change and developing leader-managers. We are also delighted to welcome Simon Walker from Talent Smoothie, as our keynote speaker. Simon’s recent work focuses on the challenges of leadership in an ever changing world and particularly in inspiring performance across all generations, especially the incoming ‘Generation Y’.

The day will culminate in the inaugural lecture of Professor Sharon Turnbull examining the latest concepts in Leadership and Management.

You are very welcome to attend for the whole day or just part of it. The conference is free and tea, coffee and lunch will be provided.