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The Leading Edge

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The cutting edge of leadership and management innovation, in brief
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Whats 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

Time for a Fresh Look at Sustainability

In 2025, sustainability isn’t a buzzword - it’s a baseline. Yet for all the noise, much of the global still relies on earlier models: reduce emissions, manage waste, and publish an ESG report. But while the world around us becomes more complex, and unpredictable, sustainability needs to do more than just stay relevant; it needs to evolve.

KnowledgeBrief

Time for a Fresh Look at Sustainability

Research

Time for a Fresh Look at Sustainability

In 2025, sustainability isn’t a buzzword - it’s a baseline. Yet for all the noise, much of the global still relies on earlier models: reduce emissions, manage waste, and publish an ESG report. But while the world around us becomes more complex, and unpredictable, sustainability needs to do more than just stay relevant; it needs to evolve.

KnowledgeBrief

Time for a Fresh Look at Sustainability

Research

AI in Team Leadership: 5 Key Challenges and the Opportunities They Unlock

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been the subject of extensive debate and research, but how can it support effective leadership and teamwork? Can it enhance collaboration, drive innovation, and make leadership more human? This hot topic explores five key challenges leaders face in the AI era. We’ll explore how leaders can balance AI insights with human judgement, foster innovation, and redefine roles in AI-augmented workplaces to unlock AI’s full potential to drive team success.

KnowledgeBrief

AI in Team Leadership: 5 Key Challenges and the Opportunities They Unlock

Research

Influencing Styles

Influencing senior leadership and board-level stakeholders demands a strategic mix of logic, emotion, and persuasion. This research examines a range of techniques including push/pull dynamics, WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?), storytelling, and peer influence and how they are effectively used to secure support and drive decisions. Grounded in leadership and communication theory, it explores how influence can be adapted to make a meaningful impact in high-level, high-stakes environments.

KnowledgeBrief

Influencing Styles

Research

Evaluating Data Metrics in Strategic People Leadership

Data analytics in HR helps align people strategies with business goals, optimising talent management and improving performance. By evaluating metrics like turnover, engagement, and performance, HR leaders can make evidence-based decisions that drive success. Benefits include enhanced employee engagement, predictive insights, and cost savings. However, challenges such as data quality, privacy concerns, and the need for skilled professionals must be addressed for effective implementation.

KnowledgeBrief

Evaluating Data Metrics in Strategic People Leadership

Research

Neuroleadership in Action: Using brain science for better teamwork

The human brain is a powerful tool, and as a leader, harnessing its potential can transform team dynamics. Imagine understanding what drives your team, making collaboration less about guesswork and more about strategy. This Hot Topic explores 'neuroleadership'—combining neuroscience and leadership strategies—to unlock creativity, boost engagement, and bring out the best in every individual, improving teamwork and focus.

KnowledgeBrief

Neuroleadership in Action: Using brain science for better teamwork

Research

How AI is Transforming the Role of Project Managers

This hot topic draws insight from contemporary research on the role of AI within project management. We use this research to consider how the role of the project manager is facing a transformation. Due to this recent advance, project managers find themselves as pioneers of innovation by being able to use advanced analytics and predictive capabilities to drive strategic decision-making.

KnowledgeBrief

How AI is Transforming the Role of Project Managers

Research

The Power of Narrative: Fusing Fact & Storytelling to Influence Change

How often have you presented an argument – based on facts, figures, and robust research – but failed to convince people? The reality is that facts and rational arguments aren’t very good at altering people’s beliefs. In this Hot Topic, we discuss how using the power of narrative can support leaders in navigating the complexities of human psychology to bring about positive change.

KnowledgeBrief

March 2024

Research

Learning in the Flow of Work

In this Hot Topic, we will look at the future of individual and organisational learning and we will share the latest insights on how to make learning a part of your everyday working life.

KnowledgeBrief

October 2023

Research

Uncover Your Hidden Talents

Even if we possess superhero level potential, we are rarely aware of the full extent of our own hidden talents. With the advent of AI and technological progress, it is now more important than ever to optimise opportunities to unleash the full extent of our all-human potential. However, the question remains: how exactly can we increase our productivity, especially if we are not aware of our own unique innate skills and talent?

KnowledgeBrief

July 2023

How we can help

Creating a Happier and Healthier Workforce

Sustain a positive and psychologically healthy workforce

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

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

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.

Testimonials

Trusted by over 300 organisations

2000+ people are already learning with KnowledgeBrief

"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 knowledge 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."

"Knowledge Brief 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 applied my course knowledge and experience, using 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, boosting my confidence and covering subjects like business understanding, communication, and operational plans, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it."

"As a result of this apprenticeship, I have gained confidence at work, developed key skills in project management, communication, and technical processes, improved my performance through focused feedback, and 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, and 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, with structured learning and the tailored guidance proving 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, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to strengthen their leadership abilities and make an impact."

"We’ve just gone through annual reviews and if I look at ratings from last year to this year, we have more excellent performers in our leadership team."

Equip your employees with the skills to increase results

If you would like to discuss how we can create your Leadership and Management Training Programmes, please get in touch