Values-led leadership at the University of Leeds

In partnership with the University of Leeds, Gradconsult has designed and delivered an ongoing university-wide management development programme on values-led leadership, as well as bespoke values-led leadership programmes for specific academic and professional services departments. The programme supports leaders at the university to embody the University of Leeds values in their own practice as authentic leaders.

Values-based leadership, where leaders operate with authenticity and integrity by embodying their own values and those of the organisation, is the vision for leadership within many UK universities. Yet in higher education, this can be inhibited by ‘hard’ realities creating a dissonance for leaders as they try to espouse their values in the face of challenging circumstances.

The University of Leeds commissioned Gradconsult to design and deliver a programme to support leaders to embody the university values in their leadership approach and behaviours.

We conducted a thorough consultation with leaders and managers at all levels in the university to understand the challenges that leaders’ face in embodying the Leeds values, particularly through periods of change or when there is a ‘gap’ (perceived or real) between their own values and those of the university.

How can I be courageously authentic and act with integrity when I perceive a gap or seeming contradiction between values?

‘It has been a pleasure to work with Gradconsult from the very start. Working with partners who both really understand the sector whilst maintaining a curiosity of what makes our own University tick, was both refreshing and reassuring. Their subject knowledge and authentic “values-led” approach ensured the programme they developed for us aligned really well with our needs’.

Danny Hannah

Lead Development Consultant

  • Our approach

    Our approach in the design of the programme was to recognise the potential dichotomy between personal values and the reality of leadership within a UK context, and surface some of these tensions to create space for challenging and productive discussion.

    We conducted a thorough consultation with leaders and managers at all levels in the university to understand the challenges that leaders’ face in embodying the Leeds values, particularly through periods of change or when there is a ‘gap’ (perceived or real) between their own values and those of the university.

    The programme has been designed to align with the University of Leeds values, providing a golden thread that links the university values, to the programme, to their own values as a leader.

  • The programme consists of three workshops exploring different themes, with key questions that participants seek to answer about their own values, and those of the university.

    1. Demonstrating our values: What are the university values and how might they apply in different contexts?

    What are my values? What behaviours demonstrate my values? How are my values perceived by others?

    2. Values in action: How do I “bridge the gap” (between institution and individuals; between my values and the organisations’ values)?

    3. Authentic belonging: How do I support others to express and live their values? How do I encourage others to understand and buy into university values? How can I role model the university values in an authentic manner to create an inclusive and collaborative environment?

Get in touch

Get in touch with Rachel Salmon to learn more about this type of project.