What differentiates a good leader from a great one? A good leader solves problems and manages issues within their own sphere of responsibility, they know what the company expects from them and have the necessary experience and professional skills to carry it out. A great leader punches higher. They don’t just settle for solving things within their own sphere of influence, but take problems to heart and get other areas involved, they are genuinely interested in knowing how the company works and gets things done. This means they can optimise everything at once, finding solutions or getting new projects off the ground in a crosscutting fashion with the other areas and colleagues, harnessing the strength and capabilities of the entire company. A great leader thinks globally and acts locally and is very aware of how their work impacts others. It is what we call ‘collective consciousness’ - not maximising performance in their area only but across the board. “A great leader thinks globally and acts locally and is very aware of how their work impacts others” A great leader is a team player and they find it more rewarding to work like that. What other aspects characterise this profile? Leaders must be capable of not only effectively managing their resources but multiplying them. They need to ensure that the people who report to them do their work, and they must inspire creativity, passion and self-improvement. Studies have found that the main reason valuable talent leaves companies is frustration with their line managers, but I believe the same thing also happens the other way around. Managers create the conditions for internal talent to develop and attract new talent, and that multiples resources. And how can that be done? Leaders improve their own results and those of their team. That is why we have dubbed ourselves ‘celebrators’ at Cantabria Labs! We celebrate not just at events but in our daily work, applauding and acknowledging the contributions of our people. This is achieved by generating trust and strengthened through honesty and humility. At the end of the day, a company is only as good as the relationships it taps to develop value. At Cantabria Labs