About the program

Indirect Leadership (IL) is a research-based leadership program developed by the Swedish National Defense University. It is designed for managers and leaders who lead through other managers, with one or more organizational levels between themselves and their employees. The program addresses the unique challenges of indirect influence — where responsibility is strategic and long-term, but direct interaction with employees is limited.

Throughout the program, you will deepen your understanding of how your leadership affects performance, trust, commitment, and culture across the organization. You gain insight into how your interaction with subordinate managers impacts results and how your leadership role model shapes the broader organizational climate.

The training consists of two blocks of two days each. Between the sessions, you work with assignments, interviews with subordinate managers, and self-assessments that include feedback from employees. The program concludes with a personal development plan.

The course is offered both as an open enrollment program and as an in-house format for management teams and organizations.