I've worked with many leaders over the years, some who have inspired, challenged, and nurtured me in my roles. From these relationships, I always look for ways to improve and develop my leadership style since these interactions with them help me continuously develop my skills in supporting others.

However,  as any good leader knows, we can only truly nurture and support our teams by listening to and valuing all perspectives and voices across the business, and some of the greatest wisdom comes from our peers.

"Don't tell me you're a comedian. Make me laugh" was stolen from a colleague I worked with at Three a few years ago.

This sentence says everything I need to know about authenticity in one line.

I've found that good leaders tend to respect your boundaries, your experience and your craft. They might not always agree with you (we all know what they say about opinions), but they know that outcomes are more important than output and know when to step back and let things run their course.

If interventions are normalised, it can lead to an unhealthy deference to the opinions of a select few – this can be counterproductive if you want to create an environment of empowerment, ownership and accountability.

Good leaders are always available and will always have time for you. On the flip side, they don't get weird if you want to focus on your work and skip the odd one-to-one. 

They trust you to manage your time. This one sounds obvious, but the best leaders I've worked with avoid micromanagement and instead instil a sense of trust and empowerment in their teams.

They are not afraid to apologise when they make a mistake. Sharing vulnerabilities is a sign of strength. Saying sorry also helps foster a workplace culture where it's okay to fail – as lessons are learned and positive outcomes can be achieved as a result.

They are open to your feedback about their leadership style. Everyone is, to some degree, figuring things out as they go, and being honest about that is one of the most authentic things a leader can do.

They'll encourage you to make connections and forge your path within the business. You'd be surprised at how many serendipitous opportunities arise from simply empowering someone to do what they're good at.

They'll advocate for you, promote your skills, achievements, and potential, and always give you credit where it's due. Having advocates who speak up for you in rooms you're not in is powerful.

They'll provide clarity about what they need from you. That might be a clear brief, context around a problem that needs solving or a simple list of priorities. Everyone should be able to embrace ambiguity to some degree, but mindreaders are in short supply.

Building on the above. A good leader will always want to know that you're set up to succeed and have what you need to meet your goals. They'll be keen to understand what resources (material, organisational, or advice) you need.

They care about your well-being and are always there to listen if work impacts it. Creating a physically and psychologically safe working environment should be the top priority of every leader.

Leadership is not just about words but also about actions. Good leaders are aware that their words and behaviours have a lasting impact.

They lead by example, demonstrating the behaviours they expect from their team. Putting that phone away or closing that laptop are simple yet powerful examples of being present in a meeting.

A simple thank you, or acknowledgement of a job well done can make someone's day.

Adding to the above, they also understand the power of active listening, spending more time in 'receive mode' than in 'broadcast mode '.