This week we provided our definition of leadership as: ‘Leadership is a collaborative, political and participative practice that provides direction, energy and critical engagement on issues that are made to matter.

I’ve been interested to see leadership described as a practice on this course - I’m more used to the idea that some people display leadership characteristics and others don’t. I do wonder whether the power dynamics within an organisation have a role to play in whether people feel and act more as leaders compared to followers.

I struggle to define leadership in and of itself but when I think of people who’ve displayed good leadership, they have a clear direction coupled with empathy and a willingness for others to reach their potential whilst supporting a shared goal.