Leadership Principles and Purpose: Developing Leadership Effectiveness and Future-Focused Capability

This book provides a fresh perspective on leadership and the steps required to achieve high performance. It explores how we create purpose by moving from vision and values through principles to action.

Effective leaders not only support and develop people but develop systems (anchored in principles and procedures) that increase future-focused capability. Increasingly, we need to appreciate the building blocks that link to sound ’third generation’ corporate governance. This includes Environmental and Social Governance (ESG). We all benefit from understanding the elements that contribute to exceptional leadership.

The book explains how principles shape competencies and build motivation and commitment. The insights also reveal the importance of confirmed competence. This enhances self-belief and increases personal confidence when faced with challenging situations. It adds to resilience. Building on principles helps clarify how energy is best directed to achieve high performance. This also ensures consistency of approach. Values need to be made explicit through principles, which support the design of systems and help shape the culture of the workplace. Principles have relevance for managers, team leaders, and professionals who want to gain insight into how we enhance motivation and commitment at work. However, the information contained in this book goes further as it also raises self-awareness and encourages reflection on the broader issue of how people find meaning and purpose.

David Sharpley is a senior business psychologist specializing in developing potential and creating conditions for exceptional performance. He has completed extensive research relating to leadership, guiding principles, and purpose. David has also developed the Pario online resources, which include surveys, 360 feedback, and work-preference profiling. His experience includes collaboration with JCS Investments in Ghana, facilitating new business, and developing capability.

David has extensive experience relating to the design and implementation of senior management/leadership development. Significant UK initiatives include work with BT, the financial sector, FTSE 250 companies, the NHS, and leading charities. He understands key factors affecting motivation and commitment. David has also run Master-Class workshops on Competency Profiling & Assessment in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bangkok. His lecturing experience at Warwick University (WMG) explored issues relating to Organizations, People, and Performance. David has the experience and insight needed to question outdated ideas and identify how to achieve exceptional performance.