Sports leaders come to learn at Leadership Convention 2015

Over 150 leaders from across the sport and recreation sector came together in Nottingham this week, for the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Leadership Convention.

With a theme set around building for the future, delegates were invited to listen to the leadership experiences of speakers from a diverse set of backgrounds and to draw on their insights when it comes to managing their own teams and organisations.

Day one at the Crowne Plaza saw excellent talks from former head of the Prison Service, Sir Martin Narey, as well as a very engaging after-dinner talk from Alastair Campbell. In between there was also a short and insightful “spotlight” talk from Jack Buckner, Chief Executive of British Triathlon.

The second day of the Convention saw keynotes from Les Miserable Director, Chris Key, Dame Helen Ghosh, Head of the National Trust and the BBC’s Director of Sport, Barbara Slater OBE. The spotlight talk of the morning came from Arun Kang, Chief Executive of Sporting Equals.

Delegates were also treated to an choice of diverse workshops designed to get them thinking about leadership techniques and how to manage and lead an organisation.

To close the Convention, Dr. Phil Friend OBE, FRSA, gave an impassioned spotlight talk about disability engagement in sport before polar explorer Craig Mathieson engaged the audience with inspirational stories of instilling confidence and belief in young people through polar expeditions.

Recurring points that cropped up from the speakers about leadership included:

• The importance of having a good team around you
• Developing the emotional resilience to overcome and manage challenging situations and
• Always trying to improve the way you work, either through encouraging and developing your staff or by engaging with your audience in a different way than they’ve become accustomed to.

This year’s Leadership Convention provoked some brilliant discussion and thinking around how the sector and sports organisations can improve, so that their members and participants can benefit.

Miss out on the Convention this year? The 2016 Leadership Convention will take place on the 2-3 November at the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly hotel. Register your interest in attending by emailing events@sportandrecreation.org.uk.