13th February, 2021
Introduction to values led heritage leadership through change
Values are our anchor in choppy waters and help us make difficult decisions. These three stories of heritage leadership through change describe how cultural organisations of very different sizes navigated a new path. All describe a moment when they were confronted by the pandemic – but it’s not the main problem in every story. Sometimes it even appears as a partly positive force: a catalyst that forces leaders to abandon business as usual – and in doing so, deal with issues that have been quietly undermining the organisation in the background.
These are also stories about how organisations have liberated themselves for their next stage in development by addressing inner fault lines. This has sometimes meant facing opposition from sections of society – or an organisation’s own supporters – who assert that ‘how things have always been done’ is the only possible future. Rebalancing who is at the table, including younger and more diverse groups for the first time, can be a vital element of good leadership. Having the courage of your convictions, and realising that heritage cannot always occupy neutral ground is also crucial.
