Lancaster expert to advise on leaders of the future

Cary Cooper

Professor Cary Cooper

08 April 2014

What qualities do our future leaders need to steer organisations to success? What backgrounds will they come from? How will the UK identify and grow them?

Professor Cary Cooper is gathering evidence with MPs, Lords and business leaders from young entrepreneurs, public-sector leaders and CEOs from blue-chip companies and SMEs about what makes a good leader post-recession.

Professor Cooper explained “Work has changed. No longer do we have jobs for life in the UK and employees will be facing job insecurity and short term contracts as the norm.

“Leaders will have to get the best from increasingly remote and global workforces, as people use technology more and prime office space becomes very expensive, and all employees, even those without young families, will expect to be considered for flexible working due to new legislation that came into force on 1 April.

“The UK needs to future-proof its economy by developing the sorts of inspirational people who will keep our businesses competitive as well as promoting a healthy working culture in their organisations.”

, Distinguished Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at LUMS, is working with MPs, Lords and board-level business leaders as part of the All-Parliamentary Commission on the Future of Management. The Commission, which is co-chaired by Peter Ayliffe, President of the Chartered Management Institute, and Barry Sheerman, MP, will report its findings in July.

The commission is also examining what needs to change to encourage more women and people from diverse backgrounds to become leaders, and what should be taught at business schools.