Post by Professor Elena Doldor

I really enjoyed last week’s Leadership Lounge at the Chartered Management Institute - frank insights from Amanda Blanc and excellent chairing from Ann Francke OBE. In addition to the highlights already shared, two points made by Amanda particularly resonated with me: • Listen before you act when stepping into a leadership role. Resist the urge to make immediate changes; take the time to understand the context and challenges before deciding what needs to change. This resonates strongly with my own research, which suggests that taking time to read the terrain, engage stakeholders and navigate informal dynamics before initiating change is a hallmark of politically skilled leadership. • Leadership development requires a joined-up, intentional approach. The return on investment may not always be easy to quantify, but organisations need a fundamental belief that developing leaders is both worthwhile and necessary for long-term success. A valuable reminder that leadership is not only about achieving results, but also about creating the structural conditions for people and organisations to thrive.