There’s a difference between a great leader and a notorious leader.

Lao-Tse, the great philosopher, said ‘the greatest leader of all is when the people say they did it  themselves’. A good leader needs to have four essential qualities – to be a good role model, be authentic, be a realist and be an enabler. Rare in combination, these aren’t tools or mindsets or prescriptions – they’re a foundation upon which to build a successful leadership style of your own.

"A bully has a hold when you believe you can only comply with the bully’s wishes, whether it is verbal taunting, intimidation or physical threats. . . Your challenge is to expand your range of choices"

(As published in CEO Online April 2005)

Gone are the days where your title ensured you started from a base of respect. Leaders today are under scrutiny being assessed moment by moment as to whether they deserve respect. Trust has been eroded. Being street smart is crucial. People know they have to look out for themselves and they do. A barren landscape exists which is an opportunity that could go either way depending on how leaders step up to the challenge.

Sarah offers the following tips on how to effectively retrench staff, even with the commonplace threat of unfair dismissal claims.