Page 5 - Leadership Basics 7

Foreword

What is a portfolio?

It is a document holder full of ‘bits of evidence’ pulled together to ‘prove a point’.
Consider the following examples.
An artist has a portfolio of his or her art work. The ‘point’ the artist is trying to prove is, “I am a good
artist”. The portfolio would have evidence such as photographs of their paintings, DVDs of their art
installations and references and testimonials from people who have bought or loved their art. The
artist would also have included some brief statements of commentary or analysis / reflection on
their work – when it was done, what is important about each piece, perhaps even how it could have
been improved if the Artist had an opportunity to do it again.
Similarly, an actor trying to win a role in a film will have a portfolio to prove that he or she is the right
actor for the part. Their portfolio would contain evidence such as DVD samples of their work,
newspaper cuttings of critics’ comments and reflective pieces that describe what sort of roles they
are best at performing.

Does a leader need a portfolio and what is the point of having one?
The answer of course depends on the leader. But many leaders have found it useful both as a learn-
ing / review device, and as a document ‘selling’ them when seeking a job, a contract extension or as
a part of a review. We say the answer is a resounding YES, leaders do need a portfolio, and in this
booklet we try to explain why they need a portfolio - for the purpose of having one.

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