Yes, it is yet another blog about leadership. And that’s a good thing.Because the conversation is getting louder, and rightly so.

But with so many voices now shouting into the leadership void, it’s getting harder to separate the trends from the truths. Everyone’s got a model. Everyone’s got a theory. And suddenly, the most human of capabilities, leadership, is starting to feel… mechanical.

So why add to the noise?

Because we think it’s time to bring leadership back down to earth.

We talk about leadership, but do we live it?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Most organisations still don’t treat leadership as a core business capability. And here I mean genuine and pure human-to-human leadership, not management.

It’s often seen as a ‘nice-to-have.’ Something we promote people into without preparing them. Something we assess in reviews, but rarely invest in meaningfully.

We’ve seen it across industries, sectors, and project environments:

Leadership is critical to success, but rarely treated with the same rigour as technical delivery, risk management or cost control.

And yet, we know what good leadership looks like.

We’ve got the research. The case studies. The painful “lessons learned” reports.

So why is it still so hard to do?

Because leadership isn’t an event. It’s a behaviour. A set of habits. A way of being – not a role you play when you put on a lanyard.

Leadership is evolving (And so should we)

At Advance, we don’t just develop leadership. We are leaders.

We’ve led major projects, built high-performing teams, and – like everyone – we’ve got our own scars, stories, and stumbles along the way.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model. We believe in principles that create space for leaders to grow, adapt, and lead in their own way – without the masks, the posturing, or the outdated playbook.

So what do we believe matters most in leadership today?

The critical elements of leadership (According to Advance)

Here’s the list we’d put on every boardroom wall and project site:

• Be Authentic

Lead in a way that’s true to who you are – not who you think you’re supposed to be.

• Be Vulnerable

Show your team that it’s okay not to have all the answers. It creates trust – not weakness.

• Be Curious

Good leaders don’t know everything. Great leaders keep asking questions.

• Be Inclusive

Make space for every voice – especially the ones who don’t sound like you.

• Be Incomplete (on purpose)

You don’t have to be the finished article. Own your gaps and build the team that complements you.

• Create Psychological Safety

It’s not enough to be approachable. People need to feel safe to challenge, contribute, and fail without fear.

• Value Difference

Diversity isn’t a tick-box – it’s the engine of high performance. Leverage it.

• Be Professionally Collaborative

Share, co-create, and step back when needed. Leadership is not a solo sport.

• Make Learning Real

Don’t just tick the training box. Build cultures where learning is constant, embedded, and applied.

Leadership is a practice, not a position

You don’t become a leader when you get a job title.

You become a leader when you decide to show up – fully, consistently, and courageously – for the people around you.

So yes, this is another blog about leadership.

But hopefully, it’s the kind that reminds you:

You don’t need a new acronym or model. You just need to start with yourself.