Leading Leaders

Building a successful senior team

Leadership can be a lonely activity and shutting out other leaders can make it even lonelier, both for you and them. The extent to which you grant freedom and latitude depends on you, but the essential characteristics of leadership should remain the same. These include the ability to: inspire trust, challenge and stimulate the leader, empower the leader, giving them as much latitude as possible, communicate your vision and priorities clearly, coach and develop your colleagues.

As well as differences in style there also needs to be a difference in emphasis. For example, it is clearly very important that the subordinate has leadership responsibilities overlaid onto their roles and that you take care not to undermine them as a leader.

Leading leaders requires a difference in emphasis in other ways, and these often depend on the needs of the task and team. Leadership at any level can be a lonely activity and rather than help them with general aspects of their job the ‘overall boss’ should help them to be a more effective leader. This toolkit explains how to successfully lead leaders.

Length: 7 pages

Contents:

The Benefits

Action Checklist: Leading Leaders

• Allow leaders the latitude to manage
• Show trust and support
• Support leaders and empower them to create change
• Challenge and develop leaders
• Develop your credibility

Avoiding Problems – this includes avoiding potential pitfalls such as isolation, insecurity, competitiveness as well as lack of understanding or support.

Dos and Don’ts

Key Questions

Things You Can Do

• Inspire trust and confidence
• Conduct performance appraisals
• Develop a passive member of your team
• Support and challenge other leaders
• Establish regular opportunities for colleagues to meet 

Further Action

Further Information

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