The Leadership Centre does not subscribe to a single, all encompassing definition of leadership for local government. We believe there is no simple analysis and development recipe that will serve all situations on all occasions. However, we do subscribe to a number of broadly accepted principles:

• leaders are not exclusively ‘born’ (though some undoubtedly are)

• leaders come in many shapes and sizes, and achieve their successes in different ways

• leaders require the capacity to understand and respond effectively to a constantly evolving environment

• necessary leadership skills include: the ability to create and share a compelling vision and story; the capacity to motivate colleagues and partners; and the will and the ability to understand themselves and their impact on others

• the processes of identifying leadership capacity and potential, and then developing it, are correspondingly varied and require skilled handling.

Our philosophy is therefore best be summoned up in the phrase “it depends”: on the circumstances of individual authorities; and on the preferences of the senior members and officials themselves. 

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