Getting people to participate in the same conversation is one challenge, getting them to productively contribute to a higher purpose is quite another. Even when we achieve that, getting that gathering to yield long term value is often in the realm of minor miracles. Despite this many of us invest (or lose) countless hours in meetings, workshops, or discussions that fail not because they shouldn’t happen, but because they should happen better. People will continue to convene together to try to achieve results – whether they succeed usually depends upon the effectiveness of the leadership of that gathering.

Leadership is often talked about in the professional world, but is less often understood, and only rarely embraced. Leadership lies at the core of our professional relationships with others. It is not something we either have or don’t have, but something that we all do to a greater or lesser extent. Understanding what makes for effective leadership can help us all to improve our own leadership outcomes and add to our professional character. It also helps us more effectively recognise, follow and support good leadership around us for mutual benefit.