Leadership theory

DfES - Management and Leadership Attributes

This framework sets out what is expected of managers and leaders in the Department for Education and Skills as the organisation moves forward to deliver the Department’s Strategic Framework. It is based on the SCS Competency Framework and was developed following a period of internal consultation in the DfES. It distinguishes between “effective” and “ineffective” behaviours in relation to three clusters of attributes (interpersonal, delivery and improvement) each of which comprises a set of behaviours, skills and knowledge.

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  Interpersonal Attributes: Making a personal impact, Giving purpose and direction
  
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  Delivery Attributes: Focussing on delivery, Thinking strategically
  
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  Improvement Attributes: Getting the best from people, Learning and improving
  

The framework takes a situational/contingency view of leadership in that it states that:

“Competent DfES managers and leaders at all levels will demonstrate varying combinations of these attributes in different circumstances and at different times. The effective behaviours and skills within each attribute are examples of what competent managers and leaders do when they are modelling good management and leadership – they may not do all of them all of the time!”

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