When it comes to leadership, business operators are given the reigns often by default rather than as a planned part of the process. So here’s a framework you can use as a starting point. At any time you can refer back to it and ask yorself, “How am I doing in each of these areas?” it might just be the development framework you ahve been looking for…

A suggestion might be to grab a piece of paper and write down the practical implications to your organisation, then assess yourself and your organisation based on these.
Effective leadership utilises the following aspects:

Technical
An effective leader demonstrates the capacity to optimise the organisations, human, and physical resources through relevant management practices and organisational systems that contribute to the achievement of the organisations vision and goals.

• Thinks and plans strategically
• Aligns resources with desired outcomes
• Holds self and others to account

Human
An effective leader demonstrates the ability to foster a safe, purposeful and inclusive environment, and a capacity to develop constructive and respectful relationships with all stakeholders.

• Advocate for all stakeholders
• Develops relationships
• Develops individual and collective capacity

Educational
An effective leader demonstrates the capacity to lead, manage and monitor organisational improvements through a current and analytical understanding of the organisations processes and its implications for enhancing the organisation as a whole.

• Shapes the structure and style of teaching
• Focusses on achievement
• Promotes enquiry and reflection

Symbolic
An effective leader demonstrates the capacity to model important values, beliefs and behaviours to the organisation and wider community, including a commitment to creating and sustaining effective personal learning communities within the organisation at all levels.

• Develops and manages self
• Aligns actions and shared values
• Creates and shares knowledge

Cultural
An effective leader demonstrates an understanding of the characteristics of effective organisations and a capacity to promote a sustainable vision of the future, underpinned by joint purposes and values, which secure the commitment and alignment of stakeholders to realise the potential of the organisation.

• Shapes the future
• Develops the organisations culture
• Sustains partnerships and networks

Your aim as a leader, based on all of the above, is to create an organisatation that thrives, not just survives. To do this you might have to think outside the square and stretch yourself to make relevance of the information to your organisation. However the results can be exceptional and you may just find the leadership skills you thought you might never have, have just become achieveable.

Take the bull by the horns as they say, and lead on…

Stumble it!