We were delighted to open this year’s Leadership Skills Forum with a powerful keynote from Prof. Adam Boddison OBE, CEO of the Association for Project Management (APM). In a thought-provoking session titled "From Vision to Action", Adam laid out six essential leadership skills that today’s (and tomorrow’s) membership organisation leaders must master in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Six Core Leadership Skills for the Modern Sector Leader:
Navigating Apparent Paradoxes
From the tension between advocacy and neutrality to balancing quick wins with long-term stability, modern leadership requires managing contradictory, yet interdependent demands.
Integrity and Credibility in an Ethically-Slippy Environment
Adam challenged leaders to prioritise doing what’s right over what’s easy, even when operating outside their core domain of expertise.
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Quoting Alvin Toffler, he reminded us: “The illiterate of the 21st century will be those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”
Realising the Benefits of Projects and Change
Beyond just delivering outcomes, leaders need to build cultures that understand and embrace the true benefits of change and learn from both wins and failures.
Data Literacy and AI Awareness
With emerging technologies influencing decision-making, leaders must bridge the gap between data insight and ethical, human-led strategy without falling into what Adam called "hallucinogenic workflows."
Emotional Intelligence in the Age of the Machine
As automation and AI evolve, EQ remains one of our strongest assets. Leading people, not just processes is what sets impactful leaders apart.
“We may be individual professional bodies, but together we represent the value of professionalisation.”
Adam’s session set the tone for the day, challenging leaders to reflect not only on where they are heading but how they are preparing themselves and their organisations for what’s next.
We’re grateful to Adam and to our headline partners APM, CIPD, and CIPR for supporting the Leadership Skills Forum.
