Good leaders inspire, the best are inclusive…

I agree with many of the comments from Roger Hughes (Business Insight, DW 10 April) and Lynda Relph-Knight (Comment, DW 10 April) about the importance of great leadership in design.

Anyone who has worked for a ‘bad’ managing director will know that it can, at times, be a living nightmare.

Conversely, working for a good leader can be truly inspirational, ultimately providing a greater reason for turning up to work than just collecting your pay cheque.

However, while it’s hard to define what good leadership means, one thing is for sure: an exceptional leader is someone who is not only great themselves, but who also recognises the

importance of supporting themselves with exceptional people at the head of each of the key pillars of the business – creative direction, creative services, client services, finance and operations.

By empowering these people, you make them passionate about the business, and they take a truly active role in creating the company’s future success.

Also, with this inclusive, rather than dictatorial, approach, a managing director can still ride the creative currents, but his or her team will ensure that their feet are kept firmly on the ground.

And, let’s face it, five inspirational people are better than one.

Barry Seal, Managing director, Anthem UK, London N1