What is the essence of leadership? In the book Intelligent Leadership, the authors posit that the true essence of leadership is a commitment to bringing out the best in your organisation’s people. The people who work for you make up the most important assets of your company, and by working to cultivate their skills and well-being, you move from being a controlling leader to an empowering leader.

In this sub-element, we’ll explore how you are currently embodying the characteristic of essence by delving into the following questions:

• How focused are you on the needs of your employees?
• To what extent do you recognise the knowledge, skills, and experience of those you work with?
• How much energy do you invest in developing the skills and leadership potential of your employees?

By reflecting on your essence as a leader, we’ll help you move from a more traditional leadership approach—which focuses on command and control—to a newer style of leadership that involves coaching, facilitating, educating, and empowering.