Leadership for Change

Power, Practice and Reflection

Rethink leadership . Understand power . Develop practice that makes a difference .

What does it mean to lead in a world of complexity, inequality and constant change? Leadership is often presented as a set of personal qualities, management techniques or behaviours associated with successful individuals. But this leaves some important questions unanswered. Who decides what needs to change? Whose knowledge and experience count? How is power exercised? And how can leadership support people and communities to shape their own futures? Leadership for Change offers a different approach. Grounded in the philosophy and pedagogy of Paulo Freire , this programme brings together leadership theory, practical experience and critical reflection to explore leadership as a social, relational and potentially transformative practice. Rather than offering another collection of leadership models and techniques, it invites you to question conventional assumptions, examine the realities of power, and develop a more critical, participatory and reflective approach to your own leadership practice.

Leadership is not just about leaders

Conventional leadership development often focuses on the individual: their skills, style, personality and ability to influence others. These things matter. But leadership also takes place within organisations, institutions, communities and wider social structures. It is shaped by relationships, competing interests, unequal resources and different understandings of what change should mean. Drawing on Paulo Freire's work, this programme approaches leadership through dialogue, critical inquiry, collective learning and praxis—the ongoing relationship between reflection and action. This means asking not only how to become a more effective leader, but also what leadership is for, whom it serves and how it can contribute to meaningful change.

What will you explore?

The programme consists of three interconnected short courses, which together form a coherent journey through leadership theory, practice and reflection. 1. Rethinking Leadership: Theory, Power and Critical Perspectives Explore major theories and models of leadership while questioning their assumptions, evidence and limitations. Examine how leadership is shaped by context, relationships and power, and develop your ability to critically evaluate leadership in practice. 2. Leadership in Practice: Participation, Relationships and Collective Change Consider how leadership operates in organisations, professional settings and communities. Explore participation, collective agency, organisational change, dialogue and the challenges of working with others to bring about meaningful change. 3. Critical Reflection and Praxis: Learning, Action and Transformative Leadership Move beyond conventional reflective practice to examine how experience, identity, assumptions and power shape your actions. Develop the capacity to learn critically from experience and connect reflection to purposeful future action.

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Registration Options

Duration

You will be registered for 12 months from the start of the course. The minimum time necessary to complete the course is 3 months.

Course Delivery

Course materials such as videos, readings and tasks will be released over the period of your enrollment. Live online seminars are not part of the course content but may be made available as a bonus.

Course Certificate

You will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course.

What makes this programme different?

Grounded in Paulo Freire's philosophy Freire's work offers an alternative to approaches that treat people simply as followers, recipients of expert knowledge or instruments of organisational objectives. It encourages dialogue, critical consciousness and the development of collective agency. Critical rather than prescriptive You will study established leadership theories, but not as ready-made formulas. You will learn to evaluate their strengths, limitations, underlying assumptions and relevance to different contexts. Power and participation at the centre Leadership is inseparable from questions of power. The programme explores whose voices are heard, who influences decisions and how leadership can either reinforce existing inequalities or contribute to change. Connected to your own practice The course connects academic ideas with professional, organisational and community experience. Practical activities, real-world examples and facilitated discussion help you examine your own circumstances and possibilities for action. Reflection that leads to action Critical reflection is not simply about looking back at what happened. It is about questioning our interpretations, learning with others, challenging assumptions and developing more thoughtful and responsible practice.

Who is this programme for?

Leadership for Change is designed for people who exercise leadership, influence change, facilitate learning or work with others in complex professional and community settings. It may be particularly relevant to:

Professionals and managers in public services, education, health and social care
Leaders, staff and trustees in voluntary and community organisations
Community organisers, activists and people involved in social change
Coaches, mentors, facilitators and organisational development practitioners
Project leaders, partnership coordinators and people working across organisational boundaries
Emerging leaders seeking a more critically informed foundation for their practice

You do not need to hold a formal leadership position, or already be familiar with Paulo Freire's work. What matters is a willingness to question assumptions, engage with different perspectives and reflect critically on your own experience.

How will you learn?

The programme combines flexible online study with facilitated live sessions. Online learning introduces important concepts, academic perspectives and practical examples. Live workshops provide opportunities for dialogue, collaborative inquiry, applied analysis and reflection with others. Throughout the programme, you will connect what you are learning to leadership situations, challenges and possibilities in your own context. The emphasis is not simply on acquiring more knowledge about leadership, but on developing your capacity to think critically, act responsibly and learn through practice.

Three ways to develop your learning

The programme is structured as three connected blocks: Rethinking Leadership Understand and critically evaluate leadership. Leadership in Practice Explore participation and develop approaches to collective change. Critical Reflection and Praxis Learn critically from experience and connect reflection to action. Each short course has its own focus and practical learning outcomes. Together, they provide a comprehensive exploration of leadership theory, practice and reflection.

Available CPD / Short Courses

Standalone short courses derived from a longer programme

Leadership begins with asking different questions

Leadership is not only about directing others, achieving targets or managing change. It is also about understanding the world in which we act, recognising the influence of power, listening to different experiences, and working with others to create new possibilities. Develop a more critical, reflective and participatory approach to leadership. Explore Leadership for Change and discover an approach to leadership development grounded in dialogue, learning and purposeful action.