Leaders set the pace, tone and culture of their organisation: whether they choose to be proactive about it or not is another matter. These three truths are 'hidden in plain sight' in many organisations as senior management either leads by example...or attempts to lead by instruction.

Leadership truth # 1: as long as you believe yourself to be on your journey, you continue to learn. As soon as you think you've "arrived"... growth, learning and development stop.

I've worked with some amazing senior leaders who have the humility and self awareness to realise that we're all on some sort of journey, and no-one ever truly "arrives". When they reach a particular point, they quickly discover that there's more to learn over the next horizon.

I've also worked with some people who appear to think that the plaque on the door of their 6th floor corner office means that they have nothing more to learn. I can't help feeling that, not only have they missed the point, they're missing out. Have they actually reached the point of omniscience...or ignorance?

Leadership truth # 2: if you stay too "me-focussed", you'll miss the bigger picture.

Where's your focus? On the tiny little patch of whatever's within arm's reach... or the bigger vista on the horizon?

Perhaps the question is more to the point in a leadership context... where's your focus? On YOU climbing the greasy corporate ladder, come what may, and getting to that board position / corner office / chauffeur-driven Roller... or on providing an exemplar of leadership that others will want to follow and emulate, that genuinely

makes a difference?

And if your focus is on your own navel... what AREN'T you seeing?

Leadership truth # 3: If you have to fight, manoeuvre or politick to get into or maintain a position of leadership, something is seriously wrong.

Surely, one has only to look at the current situation in Libya to recognise the truth in this.

How did you get where you are? Through your abilities, dedication and people management skills...or by lobbying the chairman on the golf course, because it was your turn, or by trampling your peers to get to first place?

People WANT to follow the best leaders, they don't have to be forced. They respect them; they might not always love their decisions, but they trust them. The worst leaders face the stress of constant fire-fighting to maintain their precarious positions.

Which have you become... and which would you rather be?