Leadership at all levels

The University was delighted to welcome a visiting group from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, who were here to see at first hand the fantastic work being done by the Sheffield Leader. The group, which included both academic and professional services staff, had been impressed from afar, after researching leadership development provision at other higher education institutions, as well as private sector organisations from around the world. During their visit they were able to take a closer look, meet University staff, and to explore the possibility of developing a similar initiative at Carleton.

The Sheffield Leader is a new initiative for both academic and professional staff, instigated by the University to form part of its leadership development strategy. The aim is to internally develop leadership at all levels, and to help staff achieve their goals by providing them with the necessary development and support. This is provided over four levels depending on the experience of the individual and what skills they would like to draw from their participation. The scope of the modules ranges from level one, which is intended for those in their first leadership position, to level four, which provides leadership development for heads of department.

The visitors from Carleton University included Dan Corbett, Interim Director of HR, Cindi Taylor, Head of their Leadership Development Team, Duncan Watt, Vice President of Finance and Administration, and Professor Katherine Graham, Senior Advisor to the President and Provost.

On what attracted them to the Sheffield Leader, Mr Corbett said: "One of the things we set off with right from the start is that leadership exists at every level. We were impressed with your leadership statement, and how you defined it, and we were attracted to the idea that you are preparing people for leadership in many ways, shapes, and forms. It's not necessarily about finding the next chancellor, it's about the whole integrated aspect of a university and how it functions."

As part of their visit the team met with some of the University's pro vice-chancellors, key members of Human Resources, former participants of the Sheffield Leader, and a group from the current crop of participants. Professor Tammy Hervey, who works in the Department of Law, has recently completed Sheffield Leader level 4. She said: “For me, Sheffield Leader represents the University making an investment in me. Because the programme is holistic and developmental, it wasn't so much the skills and practices that I learned, though they are no doubt useful, but the opportunity to learn more about myself and others, and how models of collaborative leadership will make the University an even better place.”

The team from Carleton, on their return to Canada, are hoping to implement something similar at their university based on what they have learned from the University of Sheffield and its staff. Mr Corbett said: “Over the course of the last four days, the word I would use to describe the people I've met is 'positivity'. I really get a sense that there's a pride in being here, what you've accomplished, and what you can do."

LEADERS: Pictured from left: Cindi Taylor (Carleton), Rob Gaizauskas, Valerie Cotter, Tammy Hervey, Duncan Watt (Carleton), Kathy Shrank, Katherine Graham (Carleton), Dan Corbett (Carleton)

You can find out more about the Sheffield Leader by clicking here