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Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

27 June 2017 – the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) has been working with the British Council to help define what good leadership looks like in a global policy and political context and across different locations and cultures. The study, undertaken by CISL, will inform the design of a new British Council programme to support future global leaders in the UK and overseas.

The global challenges that we face make the task of leadership far more complex and indeed urgent than in previous generations. The power of today’s dynamic context is everywhere in evidence, from political upheavals and social pressures (such as the growing tide of refugees in recent years) to technological shifts (such as cyber-terrorism or autonomous cars) and environmental problems (such as climate change or collapsing ecosystems).

The study, Global Definitions of Leadership and Theories of Leadership Development: Literature Review, makes eight recommendations for what constitutes good leadership.

The review concludes with some final reflections and a summary of recommendations for developing the new global programme.

The report was commissioned by the British Council and authored by Dr Wayne Visser, CISL Fellow (Lead Researcher), Dr Louise Drake and Beverley Cornaby. The study considered global definitions of leadership and theories of leadership development and was informed by members of CISL’s network of academics and leaders. Contributors included Dr Dennis Grube from the University of Cambridge Department of POLIS, Professor Sucheta Nadkani from the Cambridge Judge Business School, and Elspeth Donovan, Director CISL South Africa.

Read the full report, or visit the British Council website.

Contact

Zoe Kalus, Head of Media  

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