The one fits not all situation.

When we talk about people - and in this context we mean the people in our teams and companies - we have to recognize that there's no one-fits-all approach to leading and managing them. Rather, we try to make it easy for ourselves as leaders to give what is readily available: Our standard version. We have no time for extraordinary and individual gifts. And what exactly is extraordinary? Listening? Knowing each other? Meaning each other?

Let's go to a garden. If we put all the plants we want in the same place, with the same soil and the same amount of light and water, we will immediately see which plant needs what. Almost even better: First, we read the care instructions on the plant pots, so that we can decide wisely at the outset what each plant needs. And then: Action.

Okay. When we see what's going wrong in our garden and which plant hasn't managed to grow up and is able to live a normal and happy plant life: Are we going to blame the plant for this outcome? You pour little carrot. Why couldn't you grow like the tomatoes? They like the sun on the surface and the huge amount of water. Yes? No.

Dear leaders. We are responsible for the soil and the amount of water we give to each of our people. How simple is that? It's not simple, I know. But it is leadership and if we cannot make sure that our responsibilities are in place and our caring behaviour is well maintained, then I want to say: Think about whether this is really what you want to do and what you should be doing.

Most importantly, all of our leaders need a backbone because of the trust they have with the highest leadership units - the business leaders. If you give your leaders back the permission to focus on leading their people, who in the end, if we're honest, lead the numbers, then you will see a big CHANGE.