Leadership development works. Just not the way most of it is designed.
By Sinead Daly, Global Business Manager, Leadership Trust The global leadership development industry is worth over £300 billion a year. The majority of that spend goes on skills-based programmes: developing knowledge, frameworks, models, tools and techniques. The research on what that investment actually produces is uncomfortable reading. Studies going back to Baldwin and Ford’s landmark […]
The Great Debate
Join us for the next of our Great Debate series, taking place 13:00 – 14:00 on Thursday 30 April 2026. This session will explore what meaningful leadership in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion truly looks like today, and who is setting the pace for real change within our organisations. Our panel will discuss leadership approaches to […]
International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day often prompts big conversations about leadership, equality and opportunity. Yet in our recent Leadership Trust webinar with executive coach Joanna Davies, the focus fell on something more unexpected and subtle: the words we use every day. Because sometimes the smallest shifts can have the greatest impact. More than 500 people registered for […]
The myth of corporate purpose
A response to Harry Wallop by Jon Davidge We want to add our voice to the ‘purpose debate’. As an organisation whose lived philosophy throughout the 50 years of our work in the field of leadership development includes the concept of ‘a common purpose’, Harry’s article about the Johnson & Johnson talc scandal strikes a […]
Inward Bound, Not Outward Bound
The experiential learning philosophy at the heart of Leadership Trust By John English, CEO, Leadership Trust As we dug through our 50-year archive – what amounted to a shipping container filled with ideas, reflections and breakthroughs from the great minds who shaped this organisation – one phrase resurfaced again and again: “Inward bound, not outward bound”. This phrase sits at the heart of what Leadership Trust was built on but what […]
Why the Future of Leadership Isn’t at the Top – It’s All Around Us
From command-and-control to distributed, rankless leadership: what the data and the world around us are showing, and why I’m convinced it matters. By John English, Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Trust I’ve spent a lot of years watching how people lead when things get tough. And I’ve noticed a pattern. We still tell ourselves the story of the heroic leader – the one at the […]
Would You Want to Be a Leader Today?
By John English, Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Trust The data is in, and it paints a tough picture. According to the Global Leadership Forecast 2025, 71% of leaders say their stress has risen. Four in ten are considering stepping away from leadership altogether. And trust – the foundation of any high-performing team – has fallen […]
50 Years of Leadership Trust: How a Radical Idea in 1975 Still Shapes Leaders Today
By Jon Davidge, Non-executive Director of Leadership Trust In 1975, David Gilbert-Smith made a decision that would quietly reshape how leadership was developed in Britain. A former SAS Major and international rugby player, Gilbert-Smith had seen leadership done both well and badly – and believed much of what passed for leadership in business at […]
What is Leadership Development?
Being in and working in a demanding and dynamic business setting makes strong leadership a crucial necessity. Companies understand that their success depends on leaders who can inspire, motivate, and guide their teams harmoniously. This recognition has resulted in a greater focus on leadership development—a strategic investment in nurturing the skills and knowledge needed for […]
Forming Effective Team Dynamics: Creating a Unified and Productive Group
Effective team dynamics play an essential role in fostering collaboration and achieving organisational success. It is the intricate interplay of team members’ personalities, strengths, and goals that drive progress. While individual performance is important, it is the collective effort of a team that propels an organisation towards excellence. By cultivating a strong team, businesses can […]