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Latest news and views from the Academy, ILM, CMI and the Institute for Leadership

Why Developing Future Leaders Can’t Wait Until Promotion
One of the most common mistakes organisations make is waiting until someone becomes a manager before investing in their leadership development. Too often, high-performing individuals are promoted because of their technical expertise, knowledge or individual contribution. However, management requires an entirely different set of skills. Managing people, building relationships, communicating effectively, handling conflict and developing

Why Coaching Skills Matter Even If You’re Not a Coach
Coaching is no longer a skill used only by qualified coaches or leadership specialists. Increasingly, organisations are recognising that coaching skills are essential for managers, leaders and workplace professionals at every level. In modern and busy workplaces, employees often need more than instruction and direction. They need support, guidance, feedback and opportunities to think independently.

Leading Through Change Without Losing Trust
Change is now a constant part of working life. Organisations across every sector are adapting to new technology, changing customer expectations, economic pressures, hybrid working, restructuring and evolving workforce needs. For leaders and managers, knowing how to lead through change effectively has become an essential leadership skill. While many organisations focus heavily on operational plans

Are You Building the Skills to Help Your Team Perform at Their Very Best?
Performance management is often treated as a difficult conversation saved for when something goes wrong (which is too late, as the damage has been done). Managing performance is often overlooked (or avoided), whereas it should be recognised as one of the most powerful tools a manager has to build: capability confidence results Why managing performance

How You Can Pitch Yourself in a Competitive Job Market
At the Academy of Leadership & Management, conversations with employers and learners often return to one theme: in a competitive market, how someone presents their value matters just as much as the experience itself. In a crowded job market, experience alone is rarely enough. So, let’s explore what sets candidates apart. Generally, it comes down

The Leadership Skill Many Avoid (But Can’t Afford To): Presenting
For many managers and leaders, presenting isn’t just another skill. It’s the one they quietly hope to avoid. Yet it shows up everywhere from Team briefings to Stakeholder updates through to strategy sessions and reporting results. Here’s a truth bomb: confidence doesn’t come before doing it. It comes because you do it. Why leaders need

The Leadership Skill Many Avoid (But Can’t Afford To): Delegation
As a manager delegation isn’t just about getting work off your desk. It’s about growing capability within your team, building mutual trust, and for you creating space to lead. Yet many managers and leaders hold back delegating as they simply find it difficult to let go in the moment. Read on to explore the art of

Why Leadership Development Works Best When Theory Meets Practice
Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t learn to swim by reading about water”? You can study the theory or you can watch others do it but at some point, you have to get in the water. Leadership development works in much the same way. Reading about leadership models, watching great speakers Ted Talks

Leading Through Change with Confidence
Let’s talk about leadership during times of change and consider where to focus your energy. Focusing Your Energy Where It Matters Most Change is a constant feature of modern organisations with many internal and external influences. New technologies emerge, markets shift, policies evolve and expectations of work continue to change. It feels like there is

10 Simple Leadership Practices That Make a Big Difference
So, what makes a good leader? Many people assume leadership comes from a job title or position of authority. In reality, the most effective leadership is built through everyday behaviours that influence how people feel, work and collaborate. Small actions such as listening attentively, recognising effort and responding calmly under pressure often shape team culture

Say hello to Tonia Hoskins
We’re delighted to welcome Tonia Hoskins to the Academy of Leadership and Management. Tonia joins us as a highly experienced leader in apprenticeships, bringing over ten years of expertise across the private sector and further education colleges. Throughout her career, she has supported both apprentices and employers to navigate the apprenticeship journey with confidence, clarity

Welcome to the Academy: Meet Amber Keats
We’re delighted to welcome Amber Keats to the Academy of Leadership and Management as our new Programme Lead and Executive Coach. Photo Credit Phil Tragen With over 12 years of experience across the UK and the Middle East, Amber brings a wealth of teaching, coaching and programme leadership expertise. Her career has taken her

Case Study: Powering Leadership Growth at Avove Utilities
Client: Avove UtilitiesProgramme: Bespoke ILM Leadership & Management Qualifications (Levels 3, 5 & 7) Client Overview Avove is a Tier 1 contractor that partners exclusively within the UK’s critical utilities sectors, providing infrastructure, non-infrastructure and engineering solutions built on innovative thinking and an agile approach. As such, they design, build and maintain utilities infrastructure to

Leadership in Action: Real Lessons from Leaders Who Have Walked the Path
Our recent Aspiring Leaders conference in partnership with North West Employers created space to learn from accomplished leaders who opne and honestly shared the highs and lows of their personal leadership journey. The insights shared are relevant to anyone committed to growing their leadership practice. Across every session, one message stood out. Leadership is not

Year of the Horse: Where Coaching Becomes Movement
Running Toward What Is Calling You by Pamela Weeden, senior executive coach As Chinese New Year marks the arrival of the Year of the Horse, it offers a natural pause to reflect on momentum, movement and what may be ready to step forward something I was reminded of recently while watching my puppy, Marley, run.