Steven Broomhead, chief executive of Warrington Borough Council, talks about leadership style in his latest column

“WE want leaders not bosses” was the conclusion of a staff development event I attended recently.

The debate about positive leadership in organisations is one that has preoccupied many in the search for its optimum form and model.

I’m coming up to 30 years as a chief executive in a number of organisations as well as being a board chairman in the private, public, academic and social value sectors – this has meant that I have been reflecting on “leadership”.

My thoughts were also motivated by a survey of 1,800 workers by a European business consultancy that suggested in the UK that chief executive officers here should be titled “chief elusive officers”.

The spectrum of our UK stereotypical corporate leader ranges from number crunchers pouring over spreadsheets and remotely cutting headcounts to happy clappy bosses who glad hand “colleagues”.

UK bosses are very much the former – their leadership style is aloof and distant.

Twenty one per cent of the surveyed European workers had no contact with the CEO – in the UK it was 36 per cent. Forty two per cent of workers in Europe had met the boss – in the UK it was 25 per cent.

Leading from the front (and sometimes with my nose) has always been my motto.

Putting yourself out there is vital – perhaps this is one of the reasons I write this column. Possessing humour, integrity, warmth, infectious enthusiasm and attention to detail are the key qualities.

Keeping a constant eye on the numbers, taking evidence based decisions quickly, constant communication and knowing how to manage upwards to a board are also key positive attributions.

Busy is the new stupid – it’s about managing and delivering agreed priorities.

Being resilient and not believing your own propaganda is a quality I’ve learned over the past 30 years.

The growth and proliferation of social media and the ability to absorb criticism and the odd keyboard warrior character assassination is a feature that I’ve had to learn and live with in the past few years. Sometimes it’s not pleasant for the family or myself.

I find it fascinating to experience and watch the leadership styles of our local leaders from the private and public sectors.

Effective leadership is all about your ability to work with others.

I always think that the conductor is only as good as his/her orchestra.