Introduction
Leadership is recognized as one of the key factors contributing to successful achievement of goals, however simple or complex these goals may be. Weak leadership and inappropriate leadership are known to be recipes for failure and frustration.
Leadership exists at all levels, whether this is as the leader of a class at school, as leader of a sports team, as leader of a women’s group, as leader of a large institution, as leader of a country or of a multinational organization. In addition different types of institutions require different types of leadership. A religious organization will require a different type of leadership from a business organization; a hospital will require a different type of leadership from a hotel; and an educational institution will require a different type of leadership from an engineering institution.
Whilst choice of leaders is one of the most important ways of assuring success, it is also possible to train leaders to be more responsive to the needs of their followers, more efficient at dealing with challenges, and more effective as leaders. Leadership skills can be learnt and improved upon.
Leadership experience can also be critiqued as a way of improving performance and output. A leader’s performance can be markedly improved not only by studying the theory and the research on effective leadership, but also through peer review and collegial support. The Leadership Programme for Women aims to provide access to theory, research, peer review and collegial support. It will also provide the opportunity to plan and practice a pilot leadership project within the workshop.
There are different requirements and skills for different levels of leadership. At a lower level, the structure and functions may already be defined, and the challenge I s to learn how to perform these functions effectively. However at higher levels it may be necessary for leaders to chart the way into new and unknown areas, and to create a new system and a new process which will culminate in success. The requisite skills for the different types of leadership can be learnt.