Political Leadership

This research explores the dynamics of leading top teams in a local government context. By nature, it makes reference to the various theories of leadership that have evolved up until recent times, and places them within the turbulent environment of politics, and at a time of great sectoral change. The approach combines interviews with a wide range of senior politicians, officers and sector experts, with a survey across the whole of local government in the UK, providing an analysis at both perception and statistical levels. It makes direct reference to the relationship between politicians and professionals, their roles and their motivations, skill sets, backgrounds and stakeholders. The leadership framework that emerges is then tested to produce an understanding of what approaches, skills, activities and behaviours are most likely to create effective change and deliver greatest outcome. This is practitioner research at its best ¿ by a politician, involving politicians and officers, for politicians and officers ¿ and all those working in a political environment.