Outstanding leadership

MethodologyMore than 260 in-depth interviews were conducted with 77 business leaders from six high-profile UK organisations, as part of a qualitative study into leadership and performance. Line managers and one or two of their direct reports were also interviewed. Findings The interviews revealed subtle, yet striking, differences between merely good leaders and outstanding ones. Researchers found that outstanding leaders are deeply centred on people and relationships. They give a significant amount of time and focus to people, whereas other leaders see people as only one item among many needing attention. For outstanding leaders, people are the only route to sustainable performance.