Unit 26: Leadership and People Management in the Design and Creative Industries
Unit code: J/501/8390
QCF level: 4
Credit value: 6
Guided learning hours: 40
Unit aim
The aim of this unit is to enable learners to consider the qualities of a good leader, taking a critical view of the relative importance of different attributes in the context of the creative industries. Learners will explore the different approaches to building cohesion and effectiveness within a team.
Competency unit assessment guidance
This unit should be assessed predominantly in the workplace. Please see Annexe E. Observation, witness testimony, questioning, professional discussion, written and product evidence are all sources of evidence which can be used.
Unit introduction
‘Having an idea in the first place is just the start; bringing that idea to life in a way that inspires others to help it grow can mean the difference between an abandoned sketch on a notepad and a successful finished product in a customer`s hands.’ – Lucy Blakemore, Gravity Planning and Research, UK
The role of a leader is vital in any industry, but the leadership of teams of creative people poses unique challenges.
The leader must be able to combine the ability to enthuse and inspire. They must strike a careful balance between encouraging innovative ideas and reining in the outlandish and inappropriate without damaging the motivation of team members who may have a personal connection to their ideas.
Learners will reflect on their skills with a focus on personal development underpinned by critical introspection. They will consider the debate as to whether leaders are born or made.
Learners will look at the composition of teams through an exploration of theoretical models which can be used to examine the efficacy of a team-based on the distribution of key attributes amongst team members. They will explore different approaches to identifying of the skills of team members and use this insight as the basis of role allocation within a team.
Having considered the composition and formation of a team, learners will explore the concept of group dynamics and reflect on the extent to which this supports efforts to build trust and respect amongst team members.
Creative thinking has an inherent risk of failure and as such learners will consider how this can be encouraged in a ‘safe’ environment where individuals feel that their contributions are valued and valuable. As a corollary to this learners will consider how the performance of team members can be reviewed in order to embed and encourage creative thinking.
Learning outcomes and assessment criteria
In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the learning outcomes for the unit. The assessment criteria determine the standard required to achieve the unit.
On completion of this unit a learner should:
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Learning outcomes
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Assessment criteria
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1 Understand what it is that makes
a effective team leader
and/or manager
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1.1
Analyse skills and
attributes that make an effective
team leader
1.2
Evaluate their own
leadership skills and attributes,
identifying areas for personal development if they want to be a good team leader
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2 Understand how
to select a team
for a specific purpose
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2.1
Analyse methods which can
be implemented in order
to
● identify the mix of expertise, knowledge, skills
and attitudes required to achieve the team purpose
● identify team
members’ expertise, knowledge, skills and attitudes and agree their particular
roles within the team
● use team selection and development processes to develop any expertise, knowledge, skills
and attitudes lacking in the team
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3 Understand how to manage and motivate
a team
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3.1
Analyse methods which can
be implemented in order
to
● enable team building
and how to build
mutual trust and respect.
● encourage open communication between
team members to share
problems with each other
to produce creative solutions
● review the performance of
the team at appropriate points
and evaluate how well its purpose is being achieved
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Learning outcomes
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Assessment criteria
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● celebrate the
team and individual successes together and the
methods for empowerment of individuals to
develop their own ways
of working and take their own
decisions within agreed boundaries
● steer your team
successfully through
difficulties and challenges
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