The Scandinavian way
There is not one best way to put leadership into practice. The Scandinavian leadership style is not better but different. It is influenced by the culture and values in the Scandinavian countries. It is therefore based on values such as trust, care and respect for the individual. The Scandinavian leadership style is creating and thriving in flat and non-bureaucratic organisations, where the individual has a high degree of responsibility. Therefore, it stimulates creativity and innovation. This can be seen in many of the small and innovative companies in Denmark and the Øresunds Region.

The Leadership process at CBS Executive
At CBS Executive we believe that you do not learn leadership through different management skills. We believe that you learn from the close teamwork with your fellow participants and highly skilled leaders. We have therefore established large mentor and coach corporations through our close connection to the business world and the public sector. These corporations are used in many of our programmes as the fundamentals in the leadership process throughout the programme.

Leadership is a prominent part of the programmes at CBS Executive. The concept of leadership has been used so often and by so many that it is in danger of becoming an empty phrase, but not here at CBS Executive. We have a very clear definition of the concept, and are therefore able to develop the leadership skills of our participants.

Leadership
Leadership is a process that starts inside yourself. You have to understand your own weaknesses and strengths, before you can lead others. Leadership is not simply an individual attribute, nor is it an inborn trait or a set of concrete skills. Leadership rests on a dynamic exchange of emotional energy occurring in a social system.

Exercising leadership requires more than providing direction, mobilising others and controlling progress – it requires the sensitivity to offer reassurance and hope for the inevitable emotional tensions that organisational life entails, and awareness for the social context. You have to be able to combine your own resources and the resources of the people around you.

Leadership and management
Leaders are people, who do the right things, using effectiveness through vision and direction. Managers are people, who do the things right, using efficiency through systems and procedures. But one is not a managerial role and the other not a leadership role – both are needed for the leader of the future. The leader of the future will not be an expert in every field, but will have a deep understanding of the application process.