What Just Happened in UK Politics?
Richard Bolden reflects on the recent turmoil in UK politics from the perspective of a leadership researcher and educator, considering the case from the individual, organizational, and societal perspectives.
public leadership
The War in Ukraine & Leadership as an Essentially Contested Concept
In order to stop the war in Ukraine, we have to understand why different people have radically diverse understandings of what’s happening. In this blog, ILA Fellow Keith Grint examines how the war is not just about land or people or history, it is about our understandings of leadership.
A Systems Approach to Tackling Severe and Multiple Disadvantage
ILA Fellow Richard Bolden discusses his work leading an independent evaluation of Bristol Golden Key, a collaborative partnership project designed to transform services for people with multiple complex needs such as homelessness and substance misuse. His research reveals how seven key aspects of the program helped to facilitate systems change.
Leading With Care: What’s Stopping Us?
Leah Tomkins joins those who advocate for the importance of leading with care. She surfaces why the language and emotions of care often make people feel uncomfortable and how this can make care seem irrelevant or unnecessary for leadership and leadership development.
Build Back Better… With Care and Compassion
As governments and organisations around the world seek to “build back better” from the Covid-19 pandemic, Richard Bolden stresses the importance of making time and space for recovery — where leaders and others can experience the care and compassion needed to help them heal from the physical and emotional exhaustion that permeates our workplaces and communities.
The Power of Belief, The Triumph of Voice
ILA Fellow Katherine Tyler Scott discusses the re-emergence of autocratic leadership around the world and its ties to societal anxiety before exploring Ukrainian President Zelensky’s ability to use his voice to encapsulate the universal yearning of humanity to live free.
Ukrainian Resistance: The End of History or Its Regurgitation?
Keith Grint looks at Russia’s War in Ukraine through a leadership lens – touching on the Make Russia Great Again story, Ukrainian resistance, Destructive Consent, and the power of shame.
Putinology
How long will the Russian people put up with Putin’s aggression in Ukraine? In an authoritarian state, you need the support of the elite. As living standards begin to fall and more Russian and Ukrainian lives are lost, Matt Qvortrup, an expert on comparative democracy, argues that Putin’s position will become more and more precarious.
Contemplating a World Challenged by Social Cohesion Erosion, Livelihood Crises, and Mental Health Deterioration
The 2022 World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report reveals that global experts and leaders are worried. Key indicators like social cohesion and mental health have worsened under the pandemic. Erwin Schwella shares a leadership model that attempts to make sense of and deal with complex societal challenges such as these in analytical and active ways.
End of the Age of Arrogance?
People in positions of power and influence, like Prime Minister Boris Johnson, tennis star Novak Djokovic, and Prince Andrew, seem to believe that they are free to operate above the rules. But the tide of public opinion is turning against these egregious displays of privilege and inequality. Dr. Richard Bolden uses these cases to shed light on the reciprocal and relational nature of leadership.
Leadership as Integrity and Trust
Leadership is impossible without integrity, and integrity is inconceivable without trust. Erwin Schwella explores the interconnections between these concepts in his latest blog. He concludes, quite starkly that the flip side – leadership corruption – is deadly and kills.
From Hero to Zero: Why Leaders Fail — A South African Police Leadership Case Study
ILA Fellow Erwin Schwella uses the case of General Jacob “Jackie” Selebi, the former National Commissioner of the South African Police Service to explore the personality traits and contexts that contribute to why public leaders fail.