At McMaster University we have an integrated approach to building organizational capability, culture and capacity. Our leadership model recognizes that everyone is a leader in their own role. We have a number of supporting resources and programs to help build a strong leadership culture, with key elements embedded in all our organizational practices and leadership programs.

At McMaster we recognize that everyone is a leader in their role at the University. Based on the influence and scope of a role, we have identified five levels of leadership, with a focus on building organizational capability across the University in alignment with our strategy. These levels are only meant to be guidelines to support learning and development for our leaders and are not associated with levels of compensation. They capture the breadth and span of leadership versus the evaluation of a role. All of the levels and supporting development programming are then grounded in our McMaster Leadership Capabilities, which are expected behaviours for all leaders.

As depicted in the table via this link, the strategic perspective and scope of role progresses by level and descriptions are meant to reflect the primary or core function of a leader’s role. There could be times where leaders are called to perform at different levels and the intent is to reflect the level where leaders spend the majority of their time.

For our purposes at McMaster, our six Core Leadership Capabilities are observable abilities, skills, knowledge, motivations or traits defined in terms of the behaviours which enable individual, team and organizational success. Our McMaster Leadership Capabilities incorporate core leadership behaviours for all leadership levels.