Through studying this course, Leadership: external context and culture, you will develop your understanding of the impact of external context and culture on the practice of leadership. The course begins by exploring the nature ‘societal culture’, identifying how culture, at a number of levels, impacts on leadership. We then explore how the external context within which an organization operates impacts on the factors that leaders need to take account of and consequently the exercise of leadership. Finally, the course examines the relationship between policy and leadership.