Caroline Beaumont reveals the benefits she experienced as a Clore social fellow.

In reflecting on my Clore Social Leadership Programme experience I started wondering what I'd be doing now if I hadn't been through it.

For a start I'd probably still be blissfully unaware of all the traits and tendencies which threatened to undermine my effectiveness. Eureka moment number one came on day number one of the first fellows’ residential, when I was challenged to think about the things which had helped me be successful so far, but would limit my leadership potential unless I stopped doing them.  

I’d still be trying to wield the power of logic and reason to inspire, rather than the power of ideas.
And I'd still be looking for great leaders to work alongside, learn from and, to an extent, hide behind without fully committing to striving to become one myself.

I took my fellowship full-time which felt like a real privilege in a turbulent year for the sector. On secondment to the senior management team at St Giles Trust I came to fully understand the pressures and tough decisions that leaders have to deal with daily. I was glad I’d had this experience early on in the fellowship as it helped me to understand what I’d need to work on to be able to respond confidently and effectively at a whole new level.

Of course, having the time and space to focus fully on your leadership is a rare opportunity.  I worried that the newly learnt practices and disciplines I vowed to uphold would slip away when I was back in the thick of it, faced with the day-to-day pressures of the ‘real world’ as director of services and business development at Reach, the skilled volunteering charity.

But, more than anything, the fellowship reinforced my understanding of my natural leadership style and gave me the self-awareness to apply it consciously.  The practical skills and tools I acquired lent more substance to the style and I’ve come away with a highly individual, authentic approach – the essence of which sticks, even when things get hectic.  I asked my CEO, Sarah King, what she valued about my fellowship and hope that other employers will have similar recognition of the benefits that taking this time and space to grow as a leader brings when the pressure is on.  She said:

“Clore gave you the amazing opportunity to stand back and learn, think about what sort of leader you wanted to be and bed in some of the change without day-to-day work pressure consuming your attention.  I know you can find it frustrating to be so full-on but the structure and thinking you have enhanced in your year is there in spades.”

Finally, a few words of advice for anyone thinking of applying: There is no typical Clore social fellow in terms of skills, experience or leadership style.  But if your commitment, aspirations and true self jump off the page then you're in with a good chance of going on the journey of a lifetime.

Caroline Beaumont is director of services and business development at Reach and a Clore social fellow

Click here to read Dame Mary Marsh's view of the benefits of the Clore Social Leadership Programme and click here to read Neil Mapes' experience of the programme.