Leadership development

There are specific challenges associated with leadership development in the context of the civil society sector, partly due to rapidly changing contexts and the pressures to respond both to the demands of donors and the needs of local communities. Some of the issues associated with the development of new or alternative approaches include:

Nature of Leadership
• What is the nature of leadership within the NGO sector? Is it different from other sectors? Are there people within organisations which contribute towards leadership but aren’t leaders themselves? Do we need a more nuanced understanding of followership?

Approaches to Leadership Development
• Are the leadership development approaches currently used effective? What are the factors that cause leaders to change behaviour? How can we better adapt approaches to respond better to the needs of the sector? Will this involve moving beyond conventional consultancy and training?

Leadership in Different Cultures and Contexts
• In what way do different cultures and contexts impact on leadership, e.g. at personal, organisational, and societal levels? How can approaches be tailored to respond these differences and recognise the multi-dimensional nature of leadership?

Praxis publications on leadership development

Praxis Note 27 'Executive Coaching for Leadership Development'

Praxis Note 25
'Learning Leadership Development from African Cultures: A Personal Perspective'

Praxis Paper 10 'NGO Leadership Development: A Review of the Literature'

Praxis Paper 6
'Realities of Change: Understanding How African NGO Leaders Develop'

Praxis Note 17
'Vision Quest: Learning about Leadership Development in Malawi'

Praxis Note 14
'Autocratics Anonymous: A Controversial Perspective on Leadership Development'