Future Leadership: Beyond Binary Labels
The Case for Leadership That’s Just… Human
I started writing this post and almost abandoned it halfway through. It was going to be about gender equality in leadership, fuelled by Mark Zuckerberg’s comments about masculine energy and a general weariness with the same old nonsense. Then I realised that’s not really the issue at hand here - it is an issue, don’t get me wrong, but I have another fish to fry.
These ‘gendered energies’ we keep debating - masculine this, feminine that - may have started as a way to understand human dynamics, but they're damaging. They reinstate the belief that traits and behaviours are gendered, they're turned into boxes that hold us back.
Leadership: Stuck in Reverse?
Right now, everywhere you look, it feels like leadership is heading backwards. Whether it's one-dimensional leaders clinging to outdated ideas, like it’s still the 1980s corporate boom era or tech billionaires stuck in a midlife ‘bro’ crisis. The world doesn’t need more rigid hierarchies or hollow bravado. What it needs is leaders who act like fully evolved humans - leaders who connect authentically, embrace the glorious messiness of humanity, and toss out the decaying script about how leadership ‘should’ look.
It’s time to ditch the obsession with debating ‘masculine’ versus ‘feminine’ traits and focus on what really matters: leadership that reflects the complexity and brilliance of being human. Revolutionary, I know.
Take a moment to think about the best leader you’ve worked with and why they stood out.
A Lesson in Balance
Early in my career, I worked for a leader who, at first glance, was intimidating. He came across as a Pit Bull, all ego and ambition, and I braced myself for the worst when I learned he’d be my new boss. I assumed he’d be out for himself, driven by competition and personal success. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.
This leader turned out to be one of the most generous, empathetic, and supportive individuals I’ve ever worked with. He championed his team, shared his knowledge freely, and inspired confidence in those around him. He challenged me, supported me, and made me believe in myself, helping set my career on a positive path. What struck me most was how seamlessly he balanced his traits. He was fiercely competitive and driven, never shying away from tough conversations or bold decisions. Yet, he built deep connections with his team, listened to our ideas, and truly believed in us. Unsurprisingly, during this time, the business thrived, performance metrics were strong, and we functioned as a cohesive team, chasing results together.
How did he pull this off? It wasn’t magic - it was balance. He knew when to push and when to listen, when to take charge and when to step back. In meetings, he pushed for ambitious goals but made space to hear everyone’s input. In tough feedback sessions, he didn’t sugarcoat the truth, but he coupled it with encouragement and actionable advice. His leadership style showed that it’s not about choosing one trait over another; it’s about knowing when and how to bring out the different parts of yourself.
That experience taught me a powerful lesson very early in my career that has shaped my approach to leadership ever since: we are complex beings and you can be more than one thing. You can be tough and driven while also empathetic. You can lead with authority and still create space for collaboration. You can be competitive without losing sight of the collective good. It’s all within our capacity as human beings.
Breaking Free from Labels
Reflecting on this now, especially with the aforementioned constant chatter about ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ energy in business, I can’t help but question why we’re still stuck in these binary boxes.
The best leaders aren’t confined by labels. They embody a spectrum of traits that make them effective and inspiring. They foster cultures where their teams feel free to lead authentically. Where empathy and compassion are strengths, not weaknesses. Women who show boldness or assertiveness aren’t dismissed with outdated stereotypes, and men readily adopt traits traditionally seen as ‘soft,’ understanding that empathy and connection aren’t just valuable - they’re essential, and not solely the responsibility of women.
Because here’s the thing: the future of leadership isn’t about being more ‘man’ or more ‘woman.’ It’s about being more human.
We all come with a unique set of strengths and natural inclinations, but none of us are bound by these starting points. We have the capacity to develop other sides of ourselves, to transform blind spots into assets, and to expand our emotional toolkit. The idea that you are “one thing or the other” is not only limiting, but also untrue. Our potential lies in our ability to access and integrate all the traits within us - to find the balance between light and shade, soft and hard, resilience and vulnerability. Great leaders embrace the paradoxes of human nature. They recognise that these traits aren’t opposites but complementary forces. The magic happens not when we pick a side but when we hold space for both.
Our challenge, then, is to move beyond outdated labels and binary thinking. The traits that make for thriving, vibrant cultures - empathy, decisiveness, resilience, creativity, ambition - aren’t gendered. They’re universal, and they’re available to all of us. We just need to give ourselves and others the freedom to tap into them without fear of judgment or rejection. Of course, no single individual can embody every strength or perspective, which is why building a diverse team is essential, embracing a variety of perspectives and styles to create balance and innovation.
Imagine a workplace where people feel seen and heard, where empathy and ambition coexist, and strength is complemented by vulnerability. This isn’t a fantasy - it’s achievable. McKinsey research shows organisations with diverse leadership are 25% more likely to outperform their peers, and Deloitte found inclusive teams are 83% more likely to innovate. When we achieve the right balance and fully embrace the full spectrum of leadership qualities, everyone wins.
The Fundamentals
To tap into your humanness as a leader, let go of outdated ideas and lean into behaviours that build connection, trust, and authenticity. Here’s what’s worked for me over the years both as a leader and as a team member:
🎭 Drop the Act: Stop hiding behind perfection and avoid being ‘all talk.’ Share your passions, own your flaws, and show some vulnerability. Trust starts when people see the real you and you do what you say you’ll do.
⚖️ Master the Mix: Results-oriented and empathetic, decisive and collaborative—great leaders flex across the spectrum. You can’t always play in your comfort zone.
💎 Crack the Surface, Find the Gold: Go beyond transactional relationships. Get to know your team - their quirks, motivations, and dreams. Real connections build real loyalty.
🗣️ Talk Like a Human: Ditch the corporate lingo and communicate with clarity and heart. Be direct, relatable, and infuse your communication with authenticity. People want sincerity, not buzzwords.
👂 Listen Up: Stop planning your response while someone’s still talking. Truly listen and show them you’ve listened - it’s the simplest, most powerful way to show respect.
🌟 See Humans, Not Numbers: Your team isn’t a headcount or a productivity metric. Recognise their contributions and potential, and treat them as assets to be nurtured, not resources to be managed.
🌍 Celebrate Diverse Perspectives: Bring together people with different perspectives and strengths. Diversity fuels creativity, innovation, and better decisions.
🌀 Adapt Authentically: There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Tailor your leadership style to the moment and the person in front of you.
🔥 Own Your Purpose, Share Your Passion: Show people what truly matters to you and why it’s important. Let people see and understand what you stand for as a leader.
📚 Grow, Always: Reflect, seek feedback, and evolve. Great leaders are lifelong learners.
🚜 Get in the Trenches: Understand your team’s challenges and celebrate their wins. Leadership is about being part of the team.
Final Thoughts
Leadership isn’t about following a script; it’s about breaking the mould and daring to lead with authenticity. The world doesn’t need leaders who wear masks to hide their feelings. It needs leaders who show up fully human - unafraid to express vulnerability, embrace imperfection, own their mistakes and build trust through genuine connection.
To lead is to balance conviction with compassion, to listen as much as you speak, and to lift others up as much as you climb. True strength doesn’t come from authority; it comes from empathy, humility, and creating space for others to shine. These traits aren't diminishing, they're enhancing.
You don’t need a title to lead, and you don’t need approval to make an impact. Every time you act with purpose, encourage another voice, choose empathy over ego, and embrace the complexity of being human, you are leading. And in doing so you continue to redefine what leadership can be.
I couldn’t agree more! Well said ❤️