Listicle: Four things Happy Valley tells us about hierarchical leadership Written by Mark Rowland Tuesday 07 March 2023 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Hierarchical management structures have their pros and cons – and Happy Valley’s Sgt Catherine Cawood did a pretty good job of demonstrating both of these Spoiler alert: If you haven’t yet watched Happy Valley all the way through, you might want to look away now and read about leadership lessons from Sauron instead… You only have to travel (by the wonders of television) to Halifax in Yorkshire to observe the pros and cons of hierarchical leadership for yourself. As witnessed in the highly acclaimed crime drama series Happy Valley, the Police Service’s classical, hierarchical management structure ensures clarity, clear lines of authority and communication, as well as clear goals and results. But you also make some sacrifices. What is a hierarchical leadership model? A hierarchical organisation has a chain of command structured in a pyramid shape, with each level in the pyramid having more authority than those below it. Organisational hierarchy can be tall (lots of levels) or flat (few levels). Happy Valley’s protagonist, police sergeant Catherine Cawood, is largely a good leader, but not without her blind spots… A typical hierarchical commander, she makes quick, clear, decisive actions, but is out of her comfort zone when it comes to more nuanced emotional issues, sporting a brusque, no-nonsense manner that not all of her team gels with. What can we learn from her approach to leadership? Keep reading to discover what Happy Valley teaches us about leadership Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Sign in with email Email remember me remember Forget? Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature. Yes No Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. You have successfully registered As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits. Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article. Listicle Looking for top tips, checklists or listed ways to help you along with your management and leadership journey? You can find these here with practical tools and tips to help you to become a better manager Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
