An introduction to leadership
Featured in the The Team Leader's Development Manual training manual
By Mike Fenwick
Category: People Management and Motivation
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
‘You’re either a born leader or you’re not’, so goes the old adage. In some specific cases this may be true – you could never ‘learn’ to be Napoleon or Che Guevara. But the old saying is only applicable to a small percentage of exceptional leaders. For the rest of us – ‘developed leaders’ – the skills of leadership can be learned. Perhaps not everyone can learn though. We may need to be born with ‘a certain something’ in order to take the lessons on board. This training activity begins to look at what we mean by leadership – what a team leader actually does, and the skills and qualities necessary for them to do it.
Initially, you ask participants to discuss how people become leaders, then to consider whether or not leadership can be learned. In groups, they then consider what a team leader actually does, the list of skills needed and their overall role and purpose. You then present a definition of leadership as ‘Achievement through people’. In a final exercise the participants again work in groups to discuss the qualities needed in order to be an effective leader.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers and examines how people become leaders, what skills and qualities they need to have in order to become a good leader.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 20 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:30:00 |
| No of Pages: | 12 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers as an early session in a management development programme. Although most suitable for first-time team leaders, it is also appropriate for people who have experience but no formal management training. It can also be used in programmes on communication, decision making, developing others, influencing others, leadership and teamwork.
Download the training activity, An introduction to leadership as featured in the Fenman training manual; The Team Leader's Development Manual