What constitutes good leadership perhaps comes as no surprise and will probably seem common sense. However we do know that common sense is not always common practice, so it is our responsibility as leaders to challenge ourselves constantly.

• Do we have the right level of focus on our people?
• Are we always as positive as we should be?
• Are we as professional and as strong a role model as we could be?

It is by honestly answering these questions about ourselves that our developmental needs to become an inspiring leader inevitably lie. As Jack Welch, ceo and chairman of General Electric for 20 years, put it: Tomorrow's leaders 'must inspire people to rally around a vision of what a business can become'.

References and further reading

• Yudelowitz J, Koch RJ, Field R. Smart Things to Know about Leadership. Mankato: Capstone; 2002
• Slater R. 29 Leadership Secrets from Jack Welch. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2002
• Kouzes J, Posner B. The Leadership Challenge. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass; 2002