Tara Dillon on why the sector must address leadership concerns

What is good leadership? Do a quick search on the internet and you’ll get a host of terms like visionary, motivational and strategic. I want to know because there seem to be challenges around the concept of leadership in our sector and I want to hear opinions about it.

Some voice concern about the lack of leadership in sports and physical activity, but what do they mean by this? Are they saying there is a shortage of skills among our senior professionals, and if so which skills in particular? Where do they see critical gaps?

Our labour market survey did identify some skills gaps among senior leaders and we have partnered with an organisation to develop a course to fill these. But I’d like to know what you think it takes to create good leaders. Are these skills that can be taught in a classroom or is it a mindset that needs to be nurtured through mentoring?And if this is the case, have we got the leaders to provide such mentoring?

I see some very effective leadership in this sector, but how do we compare with other industries? How do they define leadership? Could we have too many leaders? Would we be more eff ective as a sector if there was more collaboration among our leaders?

CIMSPA’s role is to develop leaders in our sector, to set out behaviours, competencies and knowledge of our leaders and then stimulate a market that strives to fulfil that aspiration. But we need to challenge ourselves about what good leadership means and be clear about our expectations of our leaders.

I want to know what you think so we can determine what the sector needs in terms of leadership and how we can get there. Constructive criticism is healthy; blanket statements are unhelpful and do a great disservice to all of the valuable work being done by the sector’s senior professionals.

Answers on a postcard please... I mean it. I really want to get your views.

To send your responses contact info@cimspa.co.uk