Craig chats about his view on what traits make a great leader.
Early in my career, I worked with a leader who quickly became one of my first true inspirations. It was through observing her that I understood what it meant to be around someone who naturally sparks the feeling: ‘I want to follow you.’ She was challenging yet fair, engaging, enthusiastic and deeply committed to bringing out the best in her team. Being under her leadership made me feel as though anything was possible.
I believe that great leaders inspire others to become the best versions of themselves. This is about having the ability to genuinely reach people and help them see their own potential, to believe they can achieve more than they thought was possible.
Effective leaders create an environment where individuals can truly thrive. They seek and offer feedback, recognise good work and create a high-performing culture that inspires others to grow… and keep growing.
A strong leader builds a culture that has trust at the heart of it. They empower others, create a system that is straightforward and set clear direction, so others have the freedom needed to try stuff, grow and excel. As Steve Jobs famously said, “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
Another defining trait of great leadership is self-awareness. This is the ability to understand both oneself and the impact one has on others, a concept grounded in Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence. Great leaders recognise that they, too, are human and will make mistakes. Their self-awareness allows them to acknowledge errors, take feedback on board and model a culture of reflection and psychological safety. In these environments, mistakes aren’t failures, but opportunities for learning and growth as a team. This is what builds trust.
Integrity is also fundamental. Exceptional leaders act with consistent integrity, especially when no one is watching. Their standards and moral compass remain steady regardless of the audience, situation or environment, earning them long-term respect. Most importantly, they’re curious to keep understanding ‘Why people do what they do’, a perspective that ensures everyone is treated as an individual, encourages empathy and drives meaningful connection.
The idea around whether leaders are born or made is an ongoing one. I believe that some individuals do possess natural leadership traits from a young age. If you observe children playing, you’ll often notice that one naturally steps into a guiding role, such as explaining the rules of a game, resolving conflicts or directing what happens next, whilst others follow. These early tendencies reflect innate leadership qualities. However, I firmly believe that these traits can also be developed, strengthened and refined over time. Leadership is both a natural predisposition and a learned skill.
Great leadership is essential in the workplace because it creates teams that eventually no longer need a leader. Strong leaders guide, support and point their teams in the right direction, but they don’t define themselves by job titles or pay slips. Leadership is an intentional decision to act in ways that can elevate others. When leaders make the right choices, they empower people to become leaders of their own.
As the well-known quote by Maya Angelou says, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Exceptional leaders embody this. They build workplaces where people feel valued, supported and inspired. Great organisations depend on leaders who make their teams feel this way every day.
Always remember, be the leader for others that you once wished you had. I’m lucky, I’ve been privileged to work alongside and for many exceptional leaders who inspire me to this day. So, ask yourself… what will you do today that will inspire others?