The third in a series of spotlights on the Defence Leadership and Business Group (DLaB) focuses on Concepts, Research and Development (CRD).
DLaB’s in-house CRD team contributes widely to the development of the ‘conceptual edge’ for success on operations and in government. The multidisciplinary team consists of occupational psychologists, researchers and academics who are committed to understanding and applying the theory and psychology of leadership.
Using activities such as rapid research sprints, policy reviews, concept design and data analysis, CRD have developed the Leadership Edge Framework (LEF) and Leadership Edge Programme (LEP).
Leadership Edge Framework
The LEF is a conceptual model of defence leadership reflecting the multiple behavioural descriptors identified as important to effective leadership in defence.
Consisting of 41 descriptors that define the knowledge, skills, attributes, and other characteristics required for effective leadership, the LEF is being adopted by the Defence Academy. It also informed the recent Army Leader Competency Framework (LCF) and is being adapted by the Royal Navy to support their behavioural competency work under Project SELBOURNE.
The LEF is the conceptual driver for DLaB’s LEP and the Leadership in Defence (LID) publication.
Leadership Edge Programme
The LEP is an overarching programme of work comprising a series of independent but inter-related products. These products include educational and developmental tools, resources and interventions offered by DLaB.
On offer is:
- a repository of resources
- a self-assessment tool to map user attributes to the LEF
- a 360/multi-rater tool to assess attributes against the LEF
- Content-Specific Information Learning (C-SIL) modules for the Defence Learning Environment (DLE)
- digital modules of behaviourally focused learning based on LEF Dimensions
- a modular, residential, development programme: Defence Connecting Leaders programme (DCLP)
- Strategic Leadership Series (SLS)
Leadership in Defence 2025 (LiD25)
LiD25 is defence’s handbook on leadership aimed at the whole force. The publication provides an understanding of the fundamental principles of leadership applied within the strategic context by which defence guides its actions.
While primarily focused on senior leaders in defence, it nevertheless serves as a useful reference for anyone with an interest in senior leadership.