Drawing on academic research and practitioner experience, this report explores what good leadership looks like and how people professionals can be effective in the selection and development of senior leaders
Good senior leadership is vital in providing organisations with the right strategic direction and oversight. But what are the skills, capabilities and knowledge that senior leaders should be equipped with? And how can people professionals tasked with selecting, developing or advising on senior leadership positions, carry this out effectively?
The CIPD commissioned research that took an evidence-based approach to understanding current practices to provide practical insight into the following questions:
The resulting takeaways and recommendations will help people professionals influence and establish the right leadership in their organisations in a strategic and informed way.
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An annual benchmark of job quality in the UK, providing data and evidence-based insight on how to improve work and working lives
Compare your health and wellbeing practices with the latest trends, drawn from CIPD 2026 research data.
Benchmark your employees' perceptions of work life balance against 2026 CIPD research data
Dedicated analysis of job quality and its impact on organisations and working lives in Scotland
Read our latest Labour Market Outlook report for analysis on employers’ recruitment, redundancy and pay intentions
An annual benchmark of job quality in the UK, providing data and evidence-based insight on how to improve work and working lives
Insights, benchmarking data and recommendations from the CIPD's latest survey on employee benefits