Resilient Leadership in Action is a nationally recognised, practical training programme delivered online in collaboration with several other institutions, including host King's College London.
This highly interactive programme offers a unique opportunity to reshape your ideas about being a leader and expand your leadership skills, supported by experienced coaches and fellow researchers from different disciplines and institutions.
The programme will also help you to:
- understand the impact of leadership styles on those being led
- influence people towards a common goal/purpose
- receive feedback on your own leadership styles and identify how these can be developed further
- engage with researchers from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds and career stages.
We are now accepting applications for the next round of Resilient Leadership in Action. Please ensure you thoroughly read the course information below before applying.
Applications for the February/March run will open in December
This course will support you to develop a range of leadership skills through the act of applying them, rather than focusing on leadership theory. Some of the core features are:
Activities
The course is based around seven activities, the first six of which are designed to explore a different aspect of leadership and provide a practical insight into how leadership works.
In the final activity, you will address a leadership activity that you can continue beyond the course.
You will work with others in teams of six with a coach to help you make sense of the activities.
Buddies and home groups
Throughout the course you will work alongside your "buddy", who is another course participant. Together you will share your experiences and provide mutual support, developing key co-coaching skills in the process.
You will also have a “home group” where you consolidate your learning.
Resilient leadership
Underlying everything is the Resilient Leaders Elements, a framework you can use to support your learning.
All sessions of the course take place online over Zoom.
Sessions run from 09:30-12:00 on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Full attendance at all sessions is mandatory (9 sessions in total).
Dates for the Spring 2026 sessions are: 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 February, and 4, 5, 6 March.
There are six spaces for Cambridge postdocs in each round, which are available on a competitive basis.
Interested postdocs must apply, including 200-word statements about your prior leadership experience and why you wish to participate. Should the course be oversubscribed we will use these statements to decide between applicants.
Please consider your statements carefully as we are looking for evidence of your commitment to the course, an understanding of what it might give you, how you would benefit, and how you might contribute to the positive experience and learning of other participants.
You will also need to commit to fully attending all nine sessions as listed above and engaging with the pre-course material.
Postdocs from the following institutions will be participating in Leadership in Action:
- Francis Crick Institute
- Imperial College London
- King’s College London
- University of Bath
- University of Cambridge
- University of Nottingham
- Queen Mary University of London
"The various challenges offered valuable opportunities to observe different leaders, learning from both their strengths and weaknesses. This experience encouraged reflection on my own leadership style and how I could apply these insights to improve."
"Very useful and empowering course in an area that is difficult to develop otherwise."
"The course is great and engaging from the first instant. This is a great opportunity to implement your leadership skills with plenty of fun and challenging activities. Recommended!"
"It has been a rewarding yet challenging learning journey, providing valuable insights and real-world applications in a supportive and inspiring environment."
"The Resilient Leadership in Action programme is transformational. If you are open to constructive feedback the program is definitely for you. The feedback can be sometimes hard to take in but that is what makes the programme outstanding. Be open to learning and adjusting, because the overall goal is to help you become a better leader, maybe now or sometime in the future."