TITLE:
A Leadership Competence Framework to Support the Development of Conservation Professionals
AUTHORS:
Simon A. Black
KEYWORDS:
Leadership, Management, Factor Analysis, Competence, Capacity Development, Conservation Professionals
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Leadership,
Vol.10 No.4,
December
21,
2021
ABSTRACT: The
wildlife conservation sector has been slow to examine how to better lead and
manage its work and there are few empirically-based studies of conservation
leadership. This study examines the importance of a wide range of leadership
practices previously identified in leadership frameworks in literature. The
relative importance of these practices was considered by a sample of 111
diverse conservation professionals from across the globe through an on-line
survey. A principle components analysis extracted six factors which best
described variances across 68 leadership items in a structure which was stable,
reliable and valid. The analysis presents the first empirically-derived model
of conservation leadership, including broad constructs (essentially areas of
leadership competence) and clearly defined items (specific competencies) within
each construct. Importantly, these
constructs and the headings within challenge traditional notions of what leaders do, yet resonate strongly with a modern understanding of leadership, and in particular
within the context of contemporary conservation
challenges. Particularly, novel aspects in the model include: 1) an emphasis on knowledge of operational work and 2)
authentic, dignified interactions with people (staff, partners and communities)
and 3) a leaders’ primary focus on the needs of ecosystems and species of
concern. The six-factor model provides a strong basis for a future leadership
development curriculum to enable thorough, integrated personal development for
conservation professionals. The study offers a novel framework for guiding
leadership development in the wildlife conservation sector. The detailed
framework offers an important description of the specific areas of competence
needed by professionals leading initiatives in complex systems of ecological,
social, economic and political contexts, where personal, analytical,
behavioural, and practical competencies are essential for success. This is the
first such model to encompass all these areas of leadership competence.