My wife recently had some issues at work with her manager. Long story short, her boss had absolutely zero management ability, leadership skills or the desire to achieve these things. It got me thinking about what makes a good leader, not just in the workplace but in general.

You always hear people saying that good leaders “lead from the front” and this is absolutely true. A GOOD leader sets the standard, leads from example and stands firm at the top of the team structure, shouldering the burden of the team and being the first one to nat away any issues that come along. They shouldn’t be afraid to roll their sleeves up and get their hands dirty.

But a GREAT leader, as well as leading from the front, also leads from the back. Whilst doing the above, they are there behind their team pushing them forwards, simultaneously showing them the way and then stepping back, allowing them to shoulder the responsibility , live the experience, and shine for themselves.

In my experience of leadership, it is leading from behind which is hardest. I’ll readily admit, I’m a bit of a control freak and ceding control, standing back and allowing my people to take control is difficult, but it can also be massively rewarding when it pays off. Which it won’t always. But that’s fine too. You need to allow your people to make mistakes and learn form them, otherwise how will they ever learn?

This is the absolute essence of good leadership, setting the standard, showing the way and then trusting your people to achieve. Getting ahead is not about taking the credit for the work your people do, but pushing the credit onto them, letting them see just how great a job they’ve done and then allowing them to pull you forwards at the same time.

This is part of the reason I get funny about my team referring to me as ‘boss’ or ‘manager’. I don’t ‘manage’ them and I certainly don’t boss them. I try to lead them – from front and back – so that they can achieve everything they are capable of and shine by themselves.