The RSA, in partnership with Power to Change, RIO and Sheffield University Management School, delivered a leadership programme for community business leaders and explored the unique leadership challenges faced by those leaders.
Community businesses are locally rooted and driven by a philosophy of community benefit, enterprise, inclusiveness and community control. They present a unique way of truly empowering local people, giving people from all corners of their local community the power to change their spaces and places, and improve the social and economic prospects of their community in the long term.
Leadership is an essential skill and a requirement for any community business aiming to achieve their goals. Leaders must be able to provide inspiration, motivation and clear direction within their team. Unlike traditional businesses, where leadership often comes from the top of the organisational hierarchy, we believe that community business leadership can come from a variety of people with different roles within the organisation.