Leadership development programmes that change how your leaders behave
Your leaders are capable on paper but not yet operating as one leadership team. Our programmes bring more honest challenge to leadership meetings, faster decisions that stay made and emerging leaders who step up with confidence. For leadership teams and emerging leaders, in person across the UK or virtually.
- Developing leadership teams at BAT
- Since 2019
- Rise in ITV managers' confidence coaching their people
- 116%
- Leaders in a typical group
- 8 to 20
You want something that shifts how your leaders operate day to day.
Probably because right now, something isn't working as well as it should. The team is strong individually but not fully aligned. People hold back from saying what they think. Decisions take longer than they should, or quietly get revisited.
These are the things we work on with your leaders, focusing on how they communicate, where they hold back and how decisions get made.
Our coaches and facilitators run leadership development programmes from a single intensive day to programmes across 6 to 12 months, for leadership teams of 5 to 15 and groups of 8 to 20 emerging leaders, in person anywhere in the UK, virtually or a mix of both.
When leadership teams bring us in for leadership development
- Polite agreement in meetings and little real challenge
- A leadership team that looks aligned on the surface but doesn't hold under pressure
- Strong individual leaders who don't yet work as one team
- Emerging leaders promoted for technical skill, now leading people for the first time
- The same voices dominating while others hold back
- Decisions that take too long, or get made and then unmade
Who this is for
This work is built for:
- Leadership teams that are capable but not operating at their best
- Organisations investing in their next generation of leaders
- Leaders open to feedback, reflection and honest conversation
- Teams navigating change, such as new leadership, a new structure or new market pressure
It is not the right choice for:
- Teams looking for a light-touch workshop with no real challenge
- Leaders who aren't open to feedback or self-reflection
- Situations where the real issues can't be discussed openly
How it works
Start with what's happening now
We work with your leaders in the room, focusing on real interactions: how people communicate, where they hold back and how decisions get made.
Build a shared language with Everything DiSC
Everything DiSC, a personality profiling tool, gives the group a shared language for understanding each other, so people can talk about their differences without it becoming personal. We are big advocates of Catalyst, the online Everything DiSC platform. Every leader can see their own DiSC style and their colleagues' styles, with practical tips for working well with each person, so DiSC stays part of everyday work long after the programme.
Create the conditions for honesty
With the right person guiding the conversation, people say what they mean. Challenge becomes more useful, and the real issues come to the surface.
Agree together how the team leads
We work with your leaders to shape better ways of working that are practical, agreed and owned by everyone in the room, so the changes carry on once everyone is back at work.
As a function we have really grown by understanding who we are and how we get the best from each other. Since the training programme with Inner Leader there's more connections, a buzz around the office and a feeling of togetherness, which has been especially important as we navigate lots of change in the organisation. We could not have done this without the support Inner Leader has given us over the last 18 months.Sharon Goodall PhD, Group Head of MRTP Sciences, BAT
Bringing the Harvey Nash leadership team together during change
A long-serving Managing Director had left, the market was demanding and a national leadership team had not been in the same room for some time. One day together left the leaders re-energised, aligned and proud of the team they were part of.
Outcomes you can expect
- More discussion, debate and healthy challenge in leadership meetings
- Faster, clearer decisions that stay made
- Greater self-awareness and self-control in how leaders behave under pressure
- Emerging leaders who step up with confidence
- Employees reporting they feel more recognised and engaged
How it runs
| Format | In person, virtual or a mix of both (most leadership team work happens in the room) |
|---|---|
| Group size | Leadership teams of 5 to 15, and groups of 8 to 20 emerging leaders |
| Duration | From a single intensive day to programmes across 6 to 12 months |
Questions
What is a leadership development programme?
A leadership development programme is structured work with a group of leaders to change how they lead, communicate and make decisions together. Ours run from a single intensive day to programmes across 6 to 12 months, mixing workshops in the room with coaching, and are built around what happens between your leaders.
Who is leadership team development for?
Leadership teams that are capable but not operating at their best, organisations investing in their next generation of leaders and teams navigating change, such as new leadership, a new structure or new market pressure. It works best with leaders who are open to feedback, reflection and honest conversation.
How is this different from a standard leadership course?
The sessions are practical and built around what is happening between your leaders in the room. We bring in a framework only when it helps explain something the group has just experienced.
Do you run emerging leaders programmes as well as senior leadership team development?
Yes. We've designed and delivered emerging leaders programmes for international brands including Kimberly-Clark, Adecco and Nash Squared, typically for a group of leaders over several months, mixing workshops with coaching. For graduates at the very start of their careers we run dedicated graduate programmes, including Kimberly-Clark's UK graduate programme since 2023.
Will our leaders resist it?
Some people arrive sceptical, often because earlier leadership courses didn't help them. The practical approach usually wins them over within the first hour. All we ask is that people come with an open mind.
Where do you run leadership development programmes?
Anywhere in the UK, in person, and virtually for teams elsewhere. Inner Leader is based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and most leadership team work happens in the room. Coaching and group sessions work well virtually.
Can you deliver this virtually?
The team-based work is at its best in person, and we'll always say so. Coaching and group sessions work well virtually. We'll recommend the right mix for your situation.
Further reading
The 6 domains of leadership and how to use them
The 6 domains of leadership are personal, relational, contextual, inspirational, supportive and ethical. What each one covers and how to build them.
Are leaders born or trained?
Are leaders born or trained? Most leadership qualities can be trained. What good leaders share, what training develops and what a good programme includes.
Leadership training for remote and hybrid teams
Remote leadership training for hybrid team managers: what it covers, how it is delivered, proximity bias and the habits that hold a dispersed team together.
Let's talk.
Tell us what's going on with your leadership team. We'll give you a clear view of whether we can help and what we'd do.
We’ll reply within one business day.