License to Lead is the standard leadership development programme for all managers at Leiden University. The programme helps you feel confident in your role, gain insight into what is expected of you, and shape your leadership approach consciously and effectively.

You will develop the knowledge and competencies needed to lead yourself, your staff, your team and the organisation. In this way, you can build a leadership style that suits both you and the challenges facing our university.

New managers 

For new managers, participation in License to Lead is mandatory. From the moment you start in a (new) managerial position at the university, you are considered a new manager for a period of two years. During this period, you are required to complete all mandatory components of the programme.

The Foundation of Leadership Development

License to Lead forms the foundation of leadership development at the university and contributes directly to the quality of education, research and the professional development of teams. Together, we are building a future-proof organisation supported by strong and connected leadership.

On the Develop Your Competencies page, you can see which training courses are part of License to Lead.

Leadership Levels

License to Lead provides a clear foundation for anyone who currently has, or is preparing for, a leadership role. Personal leadership is at the heart of the programme, with a strong focus on reflection on beliefs, emotions and behaviour, alongside taking ownership of your own development and performance.

All learning pathways within License to Lead start from this foundation. The programme is tailored to different leadership roles, which are described in more detail on the Competencies page.

Within License to Lead, you can start at the leadership level that best matches your role, experience and development needs:

• Leading Yourself
• Leading Others
• Leading a Team
• Leading the Organisation

Every manager follows the learning activities at the Leading Yourself level, as well as the learning pathways and training courses associated with the leadership level that matches their managerial role.