Reading the politics
Political acumen and political transition for directors.
- Level
- Bitesize
- Learning time
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Where
- Becoming a Director
- Price
- £39
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Read the full terms
Certificate of Completion
Overview and Outcomes.
Overview
This module explores the political interface at director level: reading interests, power and timing without taking sides. It draws on Yates and Hartley's capabilities of political astuteness, Baddeley and James's owl, fox, donkey and sheep model, the overlap of political and managerial leadership, six steps to advising members well and the LGA's November 2025 guidance on member-officer protocols. This module examines how directors lead through elections, new administrations and new structures. It covers the pre-election period and publicity codes, the transition cycle, briefing a new administration, the May 2027 local elections in Wales, combined authorities and their mayors, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, and working with several groups under no overall control, closing with a practical transition checklist.
What you'll develop
In this Bitesize, you will develop the ability to:
- Distinguish political awareness from party politics, and explain how political and managerial leadership overlap and how a jointly built member-officer protocol supports them.
- Use the Yates and Hartley capabilities and the owl, fox, donkey and sheep model to read people and situations issue by issue.
- Apply the six steps to advising members so that your advice is frank, timely and written, and then delivered loyally.
- Outline the transition cycle around an election, including what pauses and continues in the pre-election period and how officers stay politically neutral.
- Plan a briefing and induction for a new administration covering manifesto analysis, honest constraints, quick lawful wins and early decisions.
The Modules.
1 hour 15 minutes of learning.
- 04Political Acumen at Director LevelThis module explores the political interface at director level: reading interests, power and timing without taking sides. It draws on Yates and Hartley's capabilities of political astuteness, Baddeley and James's owl, fox, donkey and sheep model, the overlap of political and managerial leadership, six steps to advising members well and the LGA's November 2025 guidance on member-officer protocols.38 min
- 05Political Transition: Elections, New Administrations and New StructuresThis module examines how directors lead through elections, new administrations and new structures. It covers the pre-election period and publicity codes, the transition cycle, briefing a new administration, the May 2027 local elections in Wales, combined authorities and their mayors, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, and working with several groups under no overall control, closing with a practical transition checklist.39 min
Keep going.
Part of the Becoming a Director topic, also sold whole as The corporate turn.
Go deeper, and pay only the difference
- You are hereBitesize, 1 hour 15 minutes, £39
- Next stepFocus, Thinking corporately, 3 hours, £69. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £30.
- The whole topicExplore, The corporate turn, 6 hours, £129. Already own the Bitesize? You pay £90.
When you step up to a higher level, what you paid in the last 12 months for lower-level courses inside the bigger course comes off its price, in proportion to how much of each is inside it, whichever topic it's from. Courses at the same or a lower level don't give credit against each other. A Focus course or above always costs at least £15. Prices per person. Read the full terms
Also part of: Leading the whole, Toward the chief executive role
Other Bitesize in the Becoming a Director topic
- Joining the top teamThe corporate turn, collective responsibility and statutory officers1 hour 45 minutes£39
- Money and challengeThe medium-term financial strategy and external assurance1 hour 15 minutes£39
- Your first 100 daysPlace, partners and the director’s narrative, with case studies1 hour 30 minutes£39
