STRONG LEADERSHIP IS CRUCIAL FOR SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

The need for ethics, integrity and expertise is taken as a given, but all too often people entering the field of social enterprise underestimate the need for strong leadership.

I've been working at the frontline of social enterprise for 14 years, both in the organisation I run and in my roles as an advisor and a social enterprise ambassador. Throughout this time I have been struck by how vital strong leadership is to the success of social enterprise.

Leadership in social enterprise relies on ethics, integrity and expertise which one might expect, but also on empathy and passion. These latter traits are often forgotten when we talk about leadership in the corporate world, but without these traits leaders in our sector struggle to make a positive impact, rarely establish strong support systems and lack motivation to nurture new leaders.

Social enterprises need serial solution-finders, networkers with keen communications skills and empathy to lead the way, and to effectively "sell the vision" of the large scale impact which can be achieved.

I have witnessed some brilliant leadership during my time at Cosmic and have had world class role models in Penny Newman from Café Direct and Fifteen and in Tim Smit and Gaynor Coley at Eden who have taught me about strong, ethical and passionate leadership. As a social enterprise ambassador I have had the opportunity to reflect first hand on what excellent leadership is and to learn from my peers.

I have also witnessed bad leadership, particularly when times are tough. Of course all businesses face the risk of failure and we are not immune, but the failure is so much more than loss of money or funding. It is also about a loss of social impact, environmental change, and often a loss of faith by the people we serve.

Social enterprise is "coming of age". We have the opportunity to rewrite "the business model" and show that good stewardship of our planet and people is good business. But there are challenges ahead.

Increasingly we are witnessing a society which is, if not in crisis, facing great challenges. It is clear that the lack of development in a strong and sustainable support network to cater to a raft of social issues will lead to a negative reaction and, in the worst case scenario, riots.

Now is the time for great leadership. We have the opportunity to develop innovative and lasting approaches to the most significant social issues, and to do so in a way which brings about long term change through successful business.

Great leadership is only beneficial when shared. Its development is often wasted by being too focused on the individual, with no sense of passing on learning. We do nothing as leaders on our own, as Henry Gilmer said: "Look over your shoulder now and then, to be sure someone's following you."

In my role as a leader at Cosmic I have had the backing of my team, which has supported many high risk strategies and new innovations during my tenure. Without this place to test new ideas, my learning would have been mainly wasted. Learning how to be the best we can be, without fear of failure, and with people around who provide support and encouragement, is vital.

Leadership, at its best, gets the best people into teams, and gets the best from those people.

This is the core of "Cosmic College" and its leadership course The Pioneer Programme. Cosmic has been running leadership courses for some time, but by becoming an accredited college of the University of Plymouth and taking this course to a graduate level, it is clear to see just how important leadership in social enterprise has become.

The Pioneer Programme comes from five years of development work and my own experiences of being frustrated at not having access to top quality learning opportunities. The course offers not only practical skills and guidance but the physical "place" to innovate, try and yes, even fail. With the focus on this way of doing business so sharp right now, it is imperative that our skills are up to the challenge.

I don't think it is any longer an option to "suck it and see" in the world of social enterprise – we are "coming of age".

Over the past 14 years I have witnessed brilliant leadership, people who are driven not just by their financial goal, but also their social, bottom line. I have seen the difference businesses like Cosmic can make. The talent, learning and skills which go into making such businesses must be shared. And, to start the ball rolling, here are some of my best tips to share with you:

Have passion and purpose – be dedicated and determined to make social change, have clear and simple aims.

Trust and be trustworthy – see the best in people and make sure people know they can rely on you; be true to yourself always.

Be pragmatic and prudent – running good business takes great skill and attention to detail especially with money.

Share the lead – be clear to your team about their potential and give them opportunity, permission and motivation to lead.

Never miss the opportunity to praise and say thank you – people need to be nurtured and encouraged to be the best.

By: Julie Harris - Guardiant Professionals