Leadership is about giving others the latitude to make mistakes with the aim that they learn from their own failures under your tutelage to become great leaders themselves.

How often have we seen that young talent with huge potential unable to grow because of that overbearing manager who breathes down her neck, forgetting that one day he was in her shoes.

I sometimes have been impatient with a learner at a traffic light muttering under my breath, I am ashamed to say so now. Often in the nick of time my conscience reminds me, “Edward you were once that learner!”

I vividly remember as a thirteen year old (the intermittent time I spent in Nigeria), being eager to learn how to drive. From the passenger’s seat I would watch my father’s driver as he went through the gears and manoeuvred the clutch and accelerator. After some time, in my head, I could hear the point at which the gear should be changed.

I would longingly envisage myself behind the wheel driving.  Sunny would willingly oblige me and often carried me on his lap down a cul-de-sac. Illegal though it was (blame him not me!) he would allow me to steer the car whilst he controlled the pedals.

I am forever indebted to him for his patience and encouragement which believe me, I wore thin with the repeated times we ended up in a pothole or ditch. Needless to say, the poor driver kept on persevering with this daring and determined thirteen year old. Thanks Sunny!

At fifteen I was driving with him now supervising me from the passenger’s seat. He taught me more than how to drive (I say that teary-eyed!). Through his generosity he taught me a leadership principle, one that I‘d sadly tripped up on several times in my earlier years.  I only wish in those years of leading teams and other executives I had extended the same grace that Sunny had extended to me.

Over time I have learnt that good leadership is about allowing others to fashion their own leadership skills through their own ‘potholes and ditches.’

The best leaders allow others to make mistakes on their own pathway of development. In a nutshell, leaders need to give those they lead the freedom to make mistakes. After all, we are not in the realm of gods; to err is human. Allow others to make teething mistakes whilst being their biggest cheerleader.

Find that wide-eyed intern today, flash a broad smile at her and tell her “it’s going to be okay, that she is going to make a great leader”. Watch her walk away with a spring in her step and go that extra mile simply because you, who she looks up to, gave her a word of encouragement along her journey to the top.

Now that’s true leadership!