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Latest news and views from the Academy, ILM, CMI and the Institute for Leadership

Why Leadership Development Works Best When Theory Meets Practice
Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t learn to swim by reading about water”? You can study the theory.You can watch others do it. But at some point, you have to get in the water. Leadership development works in much the same way. Reading about leadership models, watching great speakers Ted Talks or studying

Leading Through Change with Confidence
Let’s talk about leadership during times of change and consider where to focus your energy. Focusing Your Energy Where It Matters Most Change is a constant feature of modern organisations with many internal and external influences. New technologies emerge, markets shift, policies evolve and expectations of work continue to change. It feels like there is

10 Simple Leadership Practices That Make a Big Difference
So, what makes a good leader? Many people assume leadership comes from a job title or position of authority. In reality, the most effective leadership is built through everyday behaviours that influence how people feel, work and collaborate. Small actions such as listening attentively, recognising effort and responding calmly under pressure often shape team culture

Say hello to Tonia Hoskins
We’re delighted to welcome Tonia Hoskins to the Academy of Leadership and Management. Tonia joins us as a highly experienced leader in apprenticeships, bringing over ten years of expertise across the private sector and further education colleges. Throughout her career, she has supported both apprentices and employers to navigate the apprenticeship journey with confidence, clarity

Welcome to the Academy: Meet Amber Keats
We’re delighted to welcome Amber Keats to the Academy of Leadership and Management as our new Programme Lead and Executive Coach. Photo Credit Phil Tragen With over 12 years of experience across the UK and the Middle East, Amber brings a wealth of teaching, coaching and programme leadership expertise. Her career has taken her

Case Study: Powering Leadership Growth at Avove Utilities
Client: Avove UtilitiesProgramme: Bespoke ILM Leadership & Management Qualifications (Levels 3, 5 & 7) Client Overview Avove is a Tier 1 contractor that partners exclusively within the UK’s critical utilities sectors, providing infrastructure, non-infrastructure and engineering solutions built on innovative thinking and an agile approach. As such, they design, build and maintain utilities infrastructure to

Leadership in Action: Real Lessons from Leaders Who Have Walked the Path
Our recent Aspiring Leaders conference in partnership with North West Employers created space to learn from accomplished leaders who opne and honestly shared the highs and lows of their personal leadership journey. The insights shared are relevant to anyone committed to growing their leadership practice. Across every session, one message stood out. Leadership is not

Year of the Horse: Where Coaching Becomes Movement
Running Toward What Is Calling You by Pamela Weeden, senior executive coach As Chinese New Year marks the arrival of the Year of the Horse, it offers a natural pause to reflect on momentum, movement and what may be ready to step forward something I was reminded of recently while watching my puppy, Marley, run.

Why Hiring Is a Core Leadership Responsibility
Hiring is one of the most important decisions leaders make. Get it right and performance lifts, culture strengthens and momentum builds. Get it wrong and the cost goes far beyond recruitment fees and salary. Valuable time is wasted, pressure increases on existing teams, and morale, trust and progress can all quickly take a hit. Yet

Servant Leadership Explained: Key Advantages and Everyday Actions
Every so often, a leadership idea resurfaces that feels less like a framework and more like a reminder of what people have been craving all along. Servant leadership is one of those concepts. Though Robert K. Greenleaf first gave it a name back in 1970, its heartbeat is much older: the belief that leadership begins

How High-Trust Leadership Transforms Teams and Performance
High-trust leadership changes everything about how a team works, communicates, delivers and how they respond to their boss. When people genuinely trust their leader, they step forward with confidence, share openly, bring their best thinking to the table and feel comfortable challenging the status quo. As trust becomes embedded in the team culture it strengthens

Trust, Strategy and the Big Dog Effect: Leadership Lessons from The Celebrity Traitors
The Celebrity Traitors has sparked conversation for many reasons here at the Academy it goes beyond the entertainment factor. It is more than just a game. For us, it has offered an insightful study in group dynamics and a credible simulation of what happens in the workplace when you bring together a group of peers

Stakeholder Management: A Core Leadership Skill for Lasting Impact
As an aspiring leader, one truth is clear: you cannot succeed alone. Every project, initiative, or vision depends on people: those who fund it, deliver it, support it, or are affected by it. That is why mastering stakeholder management is not just a nice-to-have skill. It is a cornerstone of leadership. “A stakeholder in an

Leading Through Performance Management: Coaching Your Team to Success
Performance management can often be a thorny topic for our leadership learners. At the Academy of Leaders and Management, we see performance management as more than a system. We see it as leadership in action. It’s where strategy meets people. The successful leaders we work with don’t just manage; they mentor, coach, and inspire individuals

Becoming an Inspirational Leader: Lessons Beyond the Movies
We can’t all be like John Keating, the charismatic teacher from Dead Poets Society who leaps onto desks and urges his students to “seize the day.” His style was memorable, but inspiration doesn’t need to depend on theatrical gestures. True leadership is about sparking growth, unity, and commitment in others, often in quieter, more consistent