Level 02 — 12 week applied leadership journey
Build the authority to operate at senior level before the title arrives. A 12 week applied leadership journey for high performing managers who want to be recognised as ready for greater responsibility and senior leadership. Learn flexibly online, apply one practical behaviour every week at work and join live coaching alongside participants and graduates from across the C4S community.
12 week applied journey
3 development phases
3 live clinics
Weekly workplace application
Continued community access
The next level changes what people notice
As responsibility grows, strong delivery is only part of how a leader is assessed. People also notice whether you contribute a clear point of view, make sound recommendations, lead useful conversations and create accountability through other people. The C4S Executive Authority Programme gives you a structured way to build those everyday leadership habits before the next role demands them.
Move from expert to leader
Recognise where doing everything yourself limits your authority and the development of other people.
Make your value visible
Connect your contribution to wider priorities without sounding forced or self promotional.
Contribute with purpose
Enter meetings with a clear point of view, make useful recommendations and ask stronger leadership questions.
Lead through other people
Set clear expectations, give useful feedback and navigate disagreement without weakening the relationship.
The next step in your career will be shaped by more than the quality of your work. It will also be shaped by whether other people experience you as ready to lead at a higher level.
The C4S Executive Authority Programme journey
01
Weeks 1 to 4 — Reposition Yourself as a Leader
Move beyond expert delivery, understand how you are currently experienced and make the value of your contribution more visible.
Wk 1 · Move From Expert to Leader
Wk 2 · Audit How You Are Experienced
Wk 3 · Build Professional Authority
Wk 4 · Make the Value of Your Contribution Visible
02
Weeks 5 to 8 — Communicate and Lead Every Day
Contribute with purpose, communicate recommendations, ask stronger questions and create accountability.
Wk 5 · Contribute in Meetings With Purpose
Wk 6 · Communicate Clear Recommendations
Wk 7 · Ask Questions That Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Wk 8 · Set Expectations and Create Accountability
03
Weeks 9 to 12 — Lead Through Relationships
Give feedback, navigate disagreement, build organisational credibility and create a clear plan for continued growth.
Wk 9 · Give Feedback That Changes Behaviour
Wk 10 · Navigate Disagreement and Establish Boundaries
Wk 11 · Build Visibility, Relationships and Organisational Credibility
Wk 12 · Create Your Executive Authority Plan
Three live clinics follow the three development phases, giving participants space to work through current leadership situations with a C4S facilitator.
The weekly application loop
Each week introduces one clear idea, connects it to how people form judgements at work and asks the participant to use it in a real leadership situation. The learning is deliberately focused. The workplace is where the capability is built.
1
Focus
Understand one principle through concise learning, a recognisable leadership situation and a practical tool.
2
Apply
Choose one of three application challenges and use the skill in a live meeting, conversation, recommendation or team interaction.
3
Reflect
Capture what changed, how other people responded and what evidence the experience created.
4
Recalibrate
Use feedback, peer insight and the next application choice to improve the behaviour.
A realistic weekly commitment: focused learning that fits around a demanding role.
Required learning: around ten minutes of focused content and activity. Workplace application: one action selected from three relevant options. Weekly check in: a concise written or video reflection, alternating across the journey. Peer contribution: respond to at least one colleague and learn from how others are applying the skill. Optional stretch: a deeper practice activity for participants who want to accelerate the learning.
C4S Live Application Clinics
Across the 12 week journey, participants can join three live 60 minute online Q and A and coaching sessions facilitated by a member of the C4S trainer team. Bring a current meeting, recommendation, feedback conversation, team challenge or moment where you need to show greater leadership. Each clinic runs 10 minutes of current challenges from the group, 10 minutes of applied insight, 30 minutes of live coaching and practical problem solving, and 10 minutes of personal application commitment.
The wider C4S community
Learn alongside people applying the same method at different levels. Participants join shared community conversations with graduates of the two day C4S Executive Presence & Influencing Programme while following their own distinct learning journey.
Weekly Executive Focus and Practice Lab
One shared prompt keeps the method active in everyday work, and the Practice Lab gives you a place to rehearse, share and improve real communication.
Ask C4S and Live Sessions
A route to practical guidance when a live challenge appears, peer insight from different roles and organisations, and continued access to facilitated application and development after the 12 weeks are complete.
What changes
In the role
Spend less time proving expertise and more time creating direction, ownership and confidence in other people.
In meetings
Contribute a clear point of view and make the value of your thinking easier to recognise.
When making recommendations
Move beyond reporting information and communicate what should happen, why it matters and what is required next.
When leading others
Set clearer expectations, create accountability and give feedback that supports meaningful change.
Across the organisation
Build stronger relationships, navigate disagreement and develop a reputation for sound leadership judgement.
With AI
Use it to organise information, challenge assumptions and improve preparation while retaining personal judgement and accountability.
Measure application, not attendance: the journey begins with a business outcome and ends with evidence.
Day 0: define the next level of responsibility being pursued and the everyday situations in which you need to be experienced differently. Weeks 1 to 12: apply the behaviours in live work and capture the action, response and evidence created. Week 4: review the shift from expert delivery towards clearer leadership contribution and visibility. Week 8: review how communication, recommendations, questions and accountability are changing everyday leadership impact. Week 12: review the evidence, complete the Executive Authority plan and, where included for organisational cohorts, invite manager or sponsor validation.
Evidence from the wider C4S method
From a recent retrospective review reported by C4S graduates, presented as evidence of application and contribution from the wider C4S method, never as sole causation or a direct result of this 12 week programme.
93%
Stronger influence
Reported stronger influence or message delivery after applying the method.
61%
Applied at work
Provided a specific example of applying the learning in their workplace.
46%
Commercial outcome
Reported a confirmed commercial outcome connected to the learning.
Choose the right route
Registration runs through enquiry for the initial launch. Register and we will confirm cohort start dates, access timing, the three live clinic dates and the expected weekly commitment.
For individual managers
Build the authority before the next opportunity arrives.
Join the 12 week journey, apply the learning in your current role and use the live clinics and C4S community to strengthen how you lead every day.
£795 + VAT
Individual enrolment, per participant.
Register your interestFor organisations
Prepare high performing managers for greater responsibility.
Create a shared standard for how managers contribute, communicate recommendations, lead conversations and create accountability. Organisational access can include a defined participant group, sponsor alignment, application reporting and manager validation.
£14,950 + VAT
Internal delivery for up to 20 participants. Additional participants £650 + VAT each, capped at 30. Optional additions: a private Application Clinic £1,250 + VAT; two executive coaching sessions £750 + VAT per participant; additional tailoring and reporting priced according to scope.
Develop your managersQuestions
Who is the C4S Executive Authority Programme designed for?
High performing managers who are already credible in their field and want to prepare for greater senior responsibility, visibility and influence.
Is the programme fully self paced?
The focused learning can be completed flexibly. Workplace application, weekly reflection, peer exchange and three scheduled live online clinics create a structured 12 week journey.
What does the C4S Executive Authority Programme cost?
Individual enrolment is £795 plus VAT. Organisations can bring the programme internally for £14,950 plus VAT for up to 20 participants, with additional places at £650 plus VAT per participant up to a maximum cohort of 30.
How much time should I allow each week?
Allow around ten minutes for the required learning, then apply the skill in work you are already doing and complete a concise reflection.
What happens in a Live Application Clinic?
Bring a real leadership situation and work through it in a facilitated 60 minute online Q and A and coaching session with other participants.
Will I work on real business situations?
Yes. The programme is designed around meetings, recommendations, team conversations, feedback, disagreement and decisions already present in your role.
How is progress measured?
You begin with business outcomes and priority behaviours, capture weekly workplace evidence and review what changed at the end of the journey.
What happens after the 12 weeks?
You retain access to the C4S community, further insight, peer practice and continuing live development opportunities.
Can an organisation enrol a group?
Yes. C4S can align the journey to a defined management population, business priorities and an agreed measurement approach.
Your next level begins in the role you have now
Register your interest as an individual, or talk to us about developing your managers.