Sector focus
A North Star for leadership Louise Parfitt chats to Ryan Scott about life in the Royal Navy and a new initiative to develop its future leaders
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“I
would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the navy. I would not be as confident; I would not be so open to embracing new things; I would not be as resilient. It offers a different perspective on life – and the doors it can open are just incredible.” Ryan Scott is a senior non-commissioned officer at the Leadership Institute of the Royal Navy (LIRN). When we speak, it is his first day back after leave and he is slightly jetlagged still, but nothing can dim his enthusiasm for a career in the navy. He is especially passionate about the LEadership ADvocate (LEAD) Network, a new initiative to help the LIRN develop a modern leadership model for the navy. “When General Sir Gwyn Jenkins was appointed as the new First Sea Lord [highest ranking officer and professional head of the navy] last year, he set a 100-day challenge for different areas of the navy,” Scott says. “Our challenge was to deliver a new leadership model – changing how we assess and promote people, how we equip leaders with the skills and support needed to foster high-performing teams, and how we define leadership excellence and develop leaders at all levels, regardless of where they sit in the organisation. This work is designed to ensure our leaders are assessed, developed and supported effectively to meet the demands of war-fighting excellence.” 57