management & leadership

Research has clearly shown that there are real benefits of developing your leaders and managers. The Mabey Report 2005 findings show increased productivity, organisational performance and employee engagement in organisations which invested in management and leadership development (Leading…the way: Management and Leadership Development Strategy for NI 2006).

Yet management and leadership skills have been identified as specific gaps in the voluntary and community organisations (Investing Together: Report of the Task Force on resourcing the voluntary and community sector 2004). Therefore priority must be given to investing in the management and leadership capabilities of the workforce enabling them to perform better and be more productive in what they do.

This is not without its challenges. The funding led environment does not always allow for leadership development and there can be limited access to development opportunities. Lack of time can also be an issue for managers.

There have been a number of key drivers to this work in skills development not least the Department for Employment and Learning’s Success through Skills: Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland 2006 which highlights the importance of supporting development in this area. This strategy outlines the need to understand the demand for skills through labour market information and employers’ skills needs analysis.

The Positive Steps document clearly outlines the role of the Sector Skills Development Agency and Sector Skills Councils in taking responsibility for skills issues across all sectors. It is essential that the sector engages with these support systems and takes a strategic approach to workforce development.