Rolling with purpose: strengthening leadership through ELBA’s competency wheel

By Aurora Todisco, ELBA LiP Alum

Having taken part in ELBA’s Leaders in Partnership (LiP) programme several times, I’ve come to truly value its blend of learning, reflection and practical action. One tool that has stayed with me – and that I now use across many settings – is the Leadership Competency Wheel.

The Coaching Wheel is widely used by ELBA throughout the LiP programme, with all participants completing it as part of evaluating their development over the 10-month journey. It offers a structured way to reflect on leadership strengths, track progress and identify opportunities for growth.

More than just a self-assessment, the Wheel helps individuals and teams explore how they lead, communicate and adapt. It’s a staple across ELBA’s LiP, supporting growth across ten essential competencies.

In my roles – as a Finance, HR and Governance Development Lead, and as a Health Equity and Community Engagement professional – I’ve used the Wheel with a wide range of people: from board members in corporate settings, peer educators in Higher Education and frontline staff in health and social care. What unites them is a shared commitment to purposeful, inclusive leadership. The Wheel offers a common language to guide that journey.

Practical applications across sectors

Here’s how the Wheel’s competencies show up in real-world contexts across ELBA’s diverse network of partners:

• Strategic Thinking & Planning: Whether managing a school partnership, coordinating corporate volunteers, or planning a board development session, the Wheel supports purposeful planning aligned with wider goals.
• Decision Making: Particularly helpful in HR, governance, and leadership development settings, the model encourages clarity, transparency, and shared accountability.
• Communication: From simplifying recruitment messages to designing inclusive events and training materials, I’ve used the Wheel to enhance clarity, accessibility and engagement.
• Managing Change: Whether adapting to new priorities, reshaping teams or embedding new initiatives, the Wheel helps individuals and organisations lead change intentionally – not just react to it.
• Problem Solving: Across all sectors, challenges arise. The Wheel supports flexible, creative approaches grounded in practical experience and stakeholder insight.
• Confidence: The tool helps people identify and build on their strengths – especially valuable for emerging leaders or those stepping into new or cross-sector roles.
• Resilience & Wellbeing: Meaningful leadership requires sustainability. The Wheel prompts reflection on boundaries, support structures and the emotional demands of leadership.
• Influencing: Whether navigating cultural change in corporate settings or championing inclusion in community spaces, the Wheel prompts reflection on how we lead by example and build trust.

Final thoughts

For me, the Leadership Competency Wheel isn’t just about performance – it’s about purpose. It helps individuals and teams stay grounded in what matters most: relationships, trust and continuous learning.

If you’re an ELBA partner – whether in a school, college, university, business, charity, council – and you’re looking for a practical and meaningful tool to support leadership development in your context, this might be the model for you.

If you are interested in finding out more about ELBA’s Leaders in Partnership, please contact Zakia Sheba, Senior Project Manager, ELBA [email protected] 

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