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The latest thinking from across business, in brief.
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What Is Included

Hot Topic
& Checklist

A key topic for great leadership, right now.

High performance
management

The latest ideas and fresh thinking from around the world.

Innovation
leadership

New findings on building the innovative enterprise.

Expert
Viewport

Guest expert shares their latest insights on the future of leadership

Recent Hot Topics
Research

Data Analysis Methods

Data analysis helps organisations understand performance, investigate outcomes and make informed decisions. This hot topic examines four common approaches: descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analysis. It explains the questions each approach can address, how they may connect and the limits of the conclusions they support. It also explores how workplace purpose, available evidence and intended decisions should guide the choice of analysis.

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KnowledgeBrief

Data Analysis Methods

Purpose Under Pressure: Rethinking Leadership in the Third Sector
Research

Purpose Under Pressure: Rethinking Leadership in the Third Sector

How changing expectations, complex stakeholder relationships and limited resources are reshaping the questions facing leaders across charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.

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KnowledgeBrief

Purpose Under Pressure: Rethinking Leadership in the Third Sector

Managing Challenging Stakeholder Relationships in Projects
Research

Managing Challenging Stakeholder Relationships in Projects

Successful projects rely on effective stakeholder relationships. Stakeholders may have competing priorities, different expectations and varying levels of influence. Project managers must build trust, communicate effectively and manage conflict constructively to maintain support, encourage collaboration and achieve successful outcomes throughout the project lifecycle.

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KnowledgeBrief

Managing Challenging Stakeholder Relationships in Projects

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Situational Leadership
Research

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Situational Leadership

Emotional intelligence helps leaders choose the right leadership response for the situation, especially when teams are adapting to AI-enabled change. By combining self-awareness, empathy, evidence and feedback, leaders can decide when to direct, coach, support or delegate. This research explains how to apply the approach in everyday leadership situations, including difficult conversations, negotiation, digital collaboration, small pilots and human-led decision making.

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KnowledgeBrief

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Situational Leadership

The Role of Leadership in Digital Transformation
Research

The Role of Leadership in Digital Transformation

Digital transformation works when leaders connect technology to a clear purpose, people’s day-to-day work, and measurable value. This article explains why leadership matters, how leaders can support adoption, and how different leadership styles can help at different stages. It also highlights the need for responsible decisions when using AI, data and automation.

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KnowledgeBrief

The Role of Leadership in Digital Transformation

Types of Sustainability Data
Research

Types of Sustainability Data

Sustainability data comes in many forms, environmental, social and governance; quantitative and qualitative; primary and secondary. Before an organisation can collect, analyse, or report on its CR&S performance, it needs to understand what kinds of data exist and what each type can and cannot tell it. This Hot Topic introduces the main types of sustainability data and how they fit together.

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KnowledgeBrief

Types of Sustainability Data

Reporting CR&S delivery against objectives
Research

Reporting CR&S delivery against objectives

Reporting delivery against objectives means tracking progress towards defined targets and communicating it clearly and honestly to the people who need to know. This Hot Topic explores the techniques for reporting CR&S delivery against objectives and how to tailor that reporting to different audiences. (IFRS Foundation, 2024; Plan A, 2024)

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KnowledgeBrief

Reporting CR&S Delivery Against Objectives

Data collection, storage and reporting processes
Research

Data collection, storage and reporting processes

Data collection and storage is the set of processes through which an organisation gathers CR&S data from its various sources and holds it securely so it can be processed, analysed and reported. This Hot Topic explores the principles of CR&S data management across its full lifecycle. How data is collected consistently, cleaned and processed accurately, stored securely and prepared for reporting and why getting these processes right is critical to credible CR&S delivery.

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KnowledgeBrief

Data Collection, Storage and Reporting Processes

CR&S data sources, metrics and performance indicators
Research

CR&S data sources, metrics and performance indicators

CR&S data sources are the specific origin points of data, information, and frameworks used to measure and report a company's environmental and social impact. These sources generally fall into three distinct categories: the organisation itself, its sector, and its stakeholders. Once gathered, that data is turned into metrics and performance indicators that measure how an organisation is performing. This Hot Topic explores where CR&S data come from and how they are converted into meaningful measur

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KnowledgeBrief

CR&S Data Sources, Metrics and Performance Indicators

Comparing qualitative and quantitative CR&S data
Research

Comparing qualitative and quantitative CR&S data

Quantitative data shows what is happening in numbers, while qualitative data explains why through words and accounts. CR&S performance can only be understood fully when the two are compared and brought together. This Hot Topic explores the techniques used to compare qualitative and quantitative CR&S data, and how to use them to form evidence-based conclusions about performance.

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KnowledgeBrief

Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative CR&S Data

How we can help

Become a Leader Your Employees Want To Follow

Become a Leader Your Employees Want To Follow

What makes a great leader?

Creating a Happier and Healthier Workforce

Creating a Happier and Healthier Workforce

Sustain a positive and psychologically healthy workforce

Better Management Training, Better Results

Better Management Training, Better Results

Our professional development courses are available to individuals or teams. Funded via the apprenticeship levy, the UK’s government apprenticeship scheme.

Essential Training to Grow Your Small Business

Essential Training to Grow Your Small Business

You can now get the same leadership, management and customer service training as the world’s most successful companies – funded via the government apprenticeship levy.

Maximise your Apprenticeship Levy

Maximise your Apprenticeship Levy

The Apprenticeship Levy, now in its third year, can on the face of it appear complex and inflexible and is often overlooked as a solution to recurring HR and L&D challenges. The good news is, the Levy doesn’t have to be disruptive at all.

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and More than 2,000 Learners

“The quality of support I have received from my coach has been extremely high. His coaching is considered, tailored and aligned to my personal experience, career stage as well as my day-to-day balancing of responsibilities. My apprenticeship has helped to bolster my confidence that I am taking a reasonable approach with some challenging clients.”

“The apprenticeship with KnowledgeBrief was transformative, improving my leadership, strategic decisions, and confidence. I gained skills in planning, change management, financial acumen, and stakeholder engagement. Completing with distinction, I secured a new contract and expanded my consultancy.”

“The coaching course through KnowledgeBrief was well-structured, balancing theoretical and practical knowledge. The platform is easy to navigate, providing access to support and promoting a solid understanding of coaching fundamentals. The resources provided have been comprehensive.”

“KnowledgeBrief has great content and is detailed in the area I am developing in. The system is very clear and easy to use and navigate. Thanks to my Skills Coach for his support and guidance. I apply my course knowledge and experience, such as team performance, leadership styles, and the Eisenhower Matrix, to manage tasks effectively.”

“The apprenticeship has greatly enhanced my understanding of strategic work and how different areas of the organisation operate. It has boosted my confidence to ask questions and take on senior-level tasks. Studying has pushed me out of my comfort zone, showing me my capabilities and improving my overall performance.”

“The support has been timely and professional and, since starting, I have increased my knowledge through the online platform and workshops. I'm covering subjects like business understanding, communication, and operational plans - which has boosted my confidence. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it.”

“As a result of this apprenticeship, I have gained confidence at work. I've developed key skills in project management, communication, and technical processes, and have improved my performance through focused feedback. I am now better prepared to contribute to the team's goals and tackle future challenges.”

“I have seen positive work improvements using what I’ve learnt about leadership, communication, and decision-making. I highly recommend the easy-to-use KnowledgeBrief platform with visual progress tracking, extra resources, and valuable information.”

“This journey has strengthened my strategic vision, stakeholder management, team and organisational influencing skills, and, most importantly, my confidence in communication. The structured learning and the tailored guidance has proven invaluable in giving me direction and purpose as a senior leader.”

“This course improved my performance by helping me create strategies, demonstrate values, develop my team, identify growth areas, and gain leadership principles like communication, conflict resolution, and strategic thinking. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to strengthen their leadership abilities and make an impact.”

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