‘Leaders are capable of influencing others towards positive outcomes’

High levels of workplace trust lead to higher levels of performance – that’s the firm belief of DIT president Prof Brian Norton. “People often think about leadership in terms of organisational performance,” he says. “The best leaders are those who succeed in building a work environment in which employees feel supported and content and, in turn, that leads to good organisational performance. DIT sponsors this award so as to recognise those leaders who do manage to build a high-trust culture in their organisation, which ultimately benefits all concerned. This is not an easy thing to do and deserves recognition.”

In attempting to define good business leadership, Prof Norton says there is no such thing as a perfect mould. “Good leaders have varying strengths and personalities. A leadership role comes with a whole host of daily challenges and good leaders manage to navigate these challenges with integrity, treating employees fairly and ultimately inspiring colleagues to achieve a shared vision. It is important to remember that leadership is necessary throughout all levels of an organisation, so it is not the sole preserve of the most senior members of a management team. Leaders are capable of influencing others towards positive outcomes, regardless of whether their role carries a leadership title.”

There is a difference between management and leadership. “People often differentiate between managing and leading people, with leaders characterised as those who set the vision, communicate the vision and inspire people to achieve the vision. However, too much of one at the expense of the other is not a good thing; organisations need to find a balance. In the past, leadership was strongly associated with charisma but, while good communication skills are a must for any leader, increasingly we have seen a growing awareness of successful leadership of those with a more humble and less extroverted style.”

Trust is also important, and Norton says research suggests that trust is often the lubricant that makes organisations work. “This applies to all organisations – not only businesses.”

Ethical behaviour

He also emphasises the importance of ethical behaviour. “It is essential that business leaders conduct themselves with integrity and reflect on the implications of their decisions,” he says. “Unfortunately, we have witnessed unethical business practices across many sectors in recent decades. However, while people generally have always valued strong ethical behaviour, I think it is true to say that in a climate of greater transparency and regulation, people joining the workforce are very alert to such issues and that this can only be a positive thing.”

DIT works hard to develop leadership skills in all its students, introducing them to leadership modules but also to live challenges, project teamwork, and work placement, Norton adds. “As part of their extracurricular activities, students are encouraged to get involved and to stand for leadership positions in clubs and societies and for those who do step up to those positions, we offer additional leadership training. We also offer a range of modules on ethics and governance, which of course is incredibly important in any professional or voluntary capacity.”

Reflection is a key leadership competency, and DIT requires students to complete reflective diaries throughout their studies. “It is only by reflecting on our performance, and our interactions with others that we can become better leaders,” Norton explains.

Looking at the shift in focus from management to leadership, Norton says people have always been fascinated by the latter. “People tend to look at senior leadership figures and wonder how they made it, what brought about their success. They wonder if they can emulate some part of them to achieve similar success.”

Speaking about the Most Trusted Leader award, he says it is always a pleasure to recognise excellence across a range of skills and contributions. “In sponsoring the Most Trusted Leader Award, we believe it is essential to recognise those people who seek to achieve success for their organisations in the right manner while also providing encouragement, support and leadership for the employees in that company or organisation. Such leadership has a profound effect on all of our lives and hopefully will inspire future leaders by example.”