It’s one of those words that gets tossed around in meetings, discussed in TED talks and slogans on coffee cups…but what is leadership, really?
Is it about commanding a room with your laser-like vision and bold charisma? Is it about reading 200-page strategy decks and nodding knowingly while holding a fancy pen? Is it just about not crying in front of your team when everything is on fire?
Well, sort of. But not quite…
Leadership isn’t about having power over people. It’s about creating a space where people feel safe enough to bounce. Bounce ideas, bounce back from failure, and occasionally bounce into success. A good leader isn’t the centre of attention; they’re the one holding the metaphorical trampoline net tight while others do flips. You don’t need to know everything. One of the most underrated leadership moves is the powerful phrase: “I don’t know, what do you think?” It says… I trust you, you matter, let’s do this together.
Leadership isn’t about knowing everything from day one. It’s about learning, listening, and sometimes failing spectacularly but doing so with humour, humility, and the grace to say, well, that didn’t work. Most of us stumble into leadership like we’ve accidentally walked into the wrong room, and now we’re chairing the meeting. Some of the best leaders I’ve worked with didn’t even realise they were leading. They were just the ones who made people feel heard, seen, and safe enough to try. And never underestimate the power of snacks. You want buy-in for that big piece of work…bring biscuits. Want to unite a team that’s been struggling? Organise pizza. And don’t forget the gluten, peanut, and dairy issues – a good leader remembers without a fuss. Leading with humanity means recognising that people are people. They have messy lives, strange hobbies, good days, bad weeks, family away, abroad or no family. Embrace it all and really listen.
Leadership means caring. It means checking in - not just on deadlines, but on how people are. It means making space for mental health, for flexibility, and for that moment in a meeting where someone accidentally unmutes themselves and we all get a glimpse of a child dressed as a unicorn in the background. People remember how you made them feel. Not how sleek your presentation was, or how perfectly you timed the quarterly financial update. They remember if you laughed with them. If you backed them. If you didn’t panic when things went wrong.
Great leaders own their mistakes. They model what accountability looks like. They say, “I got that wrong, and here’s what I learned.” That doesn’t weaken your authority - it builds trust. And trust, in a team, is everything. Because let’s face it: if people are terrified to fail, they’ll never innovate. They’ll stick to the safest ideas, the dullest plans, and the most uninspired directions. A leader who can laugh at themselves and embrace imperfection opens the door for creativity.
Be kind. Be curious. Laugh a lot. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Admit when you’re lost. Share the credit. Eat the cake. Listen deeply. And when in doubt? Ask your team what they think. Chances are, they’ll surprise you with brilliance. Leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge - and doing it with heart, humour, and maybe a bit of biscuit bribery.
