About this event
The CIPD Branch in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire annual meeting
Leadership – The Knowing v Doing Gap!
Organisations continue to invest heavily in leadership development – yet many are still grappling with disengagement, change fatigue and inconsistent leadership impact. So where is the disconnect?
In this thought provoking session, Sharn Atherton explores the leadership skills gap few organisations openly acknowledge. Drawing on current research, practitioner insight and real world experience, this talk challenges the assumption that leadership development is simply a matter of teaching more skills.
Instead, it examines the less visible gaps that undermine leadership effectiveness: the gap between knowing and doing, between capability and capacity, and between the leadership behaviours organisations say they want and the systems they actually reward.
Designed for HR, L&D and people professionals, this session will offer a practical reframe of leadership capability and prompt fresh thinking about how organisations can genuinely close the gap – not through more programmes, but by reshaping the conditions in which leaders operate.
Participants will leave with:
• A clearer understanding of why traditional leadership development often falls short
• Insight into the hidden behavioural and systemic gaps affecting leadership impact
• Practical reflections on what needs to change to build leadership that truly works in today’s environment
Speakers Bio
Sharn is a people development specialist and executive coach with over 26 years’ experience helping leaders and organisations achieve sustainable growth. She is the founder of Futureful Ltd, where she partners with senior leaders and teams to strengthen leadership capability through executive and team coaching.
Her background spans professional services, utilities, financial services, and retail. Before founding Futureful in 2018, she led learning and development for a leading law firm and supported talent development across complex, regulated and commercial environments.
Sharn specialises in leadership and behavioural development, coaching cultures, and executive coaching. She brings deep expertise in coaching, mentoring, and learning and development strategy, with a strong focus on practical, sustainable impact.
An insightful coach and skilled facilitator, she enables individuals and teams to overcome barriers, think more effectively, and deliver meaningful, lasting change.
She is a Senior Practitioner with the EMCC, a CIPD member, holds postgraduate qualifications in Training Management and Business & Personal Coaching, and is an accredited Global Team Coach. She also previously led Coaching and Mentoring for the CIPD Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire branch.
Please note:
1. Reminder emails will be sent to you the day before, with a further reminder on the day of the event.
2. Photography and video production may be taking place at the event, and these images may be used in the CIPD newsletters.
3. By attending the event, you are giving your consent for your image to be used on any CIPD promotional materials.
4. As we are supplying refreshments, if you can no longer attend, please cancel your place either on Eventbrite, responding to this email.
5. This event may include an external speaker who has prepared their own presentation. Any views or opinions expressed by the speaker are their own and do not reflect those of the CIPD.
6. If you require any reasonable adjustments to enhance your experience, please get in contact with us by responding to this email and we will do our best to accommodate.
