Does leadership capability exist consistently across your organisation, or only in individual leaders?
Leadership, evidenced across the organisation.
Evidence, not assertion.
Leadership is built one leader at a time. It holds across an organisation, or it does not.
Organisations invest in leaders individually. Culture, systems and accountability decide whether that leadership holds across the whole organisation. A self-assessment cannot show that from the outside. LEM can.
What LEM evaluates
LEM, the Leadership Excellence Model, is LII's Organisational Accreditation. It independently assesses, on evidence, the culture and systems that build and sustain leadership capability across an organisation.
It is not individual certification, not a training mark and not a qualification.
Who it is for
LEM fits if:
- you invest in leadership development and want to know it works at system level;
- you are growing, restructuring or renewing your leadership model;
- you want an external benchmark across the levels of your organisation;
- you are ready to let independent assessors speak to your people.
Five dimensions
Leadership Culture
How leadership is actually experienced, and how the organisation responds when behaviour falls short of its values.
Developmental Infrastructure
How leadership development connects to real work at every level, and changes practice.
Enabling Structures
Whether resources, authority and systems make leadership possible rather than constrain it.
Leadership Accountability Architecture
How leaders are held to account, including when leadership falls short.
Adaptive Capacity
How the organisation reviews and improves its leadership culture and systems over time.
All five carry equal weight. Strength in one cannot offset weakness in another.
Four accreditation levels
| Level | In one line | Accreditation cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational | Coherent, evidenced foundations across all five dimensions. | 2 years |
| Standard | Consistent capability across all five dimensions and all levels of the organisation. | 3 years |
| Commended | Consistent strength, with independently corroborated impact. | 4 years |
| Excellence | Exceptional, sustained leadership capability, with wider independent testimony. | 5 years |
The level is set by the evidence. It is not selected or purchased.
How assessment works
- ApplyTell us about your organisation and the scope you want assessed.
- Scope confirmedFollowing application, LII confirms eligibility and the proposed assessment scope before assessment arrangements are agreed.
- AssessmentYour evidence portfolio, plus structured interviews with people selected by the assessment panel. Site visits at Commended and Excellence.
- DecisionEvery decision is quality-reviewed, and you receive a full written report.
The accreditation mark and award letter
An accredited organisation receives a formal award letter and may display the LEM accreditation mark. Both relate to the scope that was assessed.
These are illustrative examples with a fictitious organisation. LEM applications are not yet open, and no accreditation has been awarded.
Scope and fees
LEM accredits the organisation assessed, as confirmed at scope review. Accreditation applies to that scope only.
Fees are confirmed following review of the proposed assessment scope.
LII Leadership Excellence Model (LEM) Organisational Accreditation is a private, non-statutory accreditation awarded by the Leadership Impact Institute. It is not a government accreditation, regulated qualification, statutory licence or approval by a public authority.
Talk to LII about LEM
Tell us about your organisation and the scope you have in mind.
Recognising a single programme instead? Explore Programme Recognition