Leadership research has long relied on broad personality traits. A 2026 meta-analysis of 203 datasets finds that the facets beneath those traits tell a considerably richer story, and that the personality profile that gets people chosen as leaders is often not the one that makes them effective.
Executive coaching is widely used but its causal effectiveness has been difficult to establish. A 2023 meta-analysis restricted to randomised controlled trials only finds a moderate and significant effect, while identifying the coaching relationship as the primary driver of outcomes.
Does leader mindfulness matter? A meta-analysis of 54 samples and 9,400 leaders finds it is associated with better leader wellbeing, stronger relationships, and positive outcomes for followers, with mindfulness interventions showing particular promise for reducing leader stress.
Research on coaching effectiveness has identified what matters. A 2024 systematic review goes further, specifying what effective coaches actually do and, crucially, when they do it across the phases of a coaching engagement.
Work engagement is widely valued but its link to actual performance has not always been rigorously tested. A 2023 meta-analysis of 174 studies finds a consistent and meaningful correlation, with engaged employees demonstrably outperforming their less engaged counterparts.
AI is already handling routine management. A 2023 opinion piece argues the assumption that human leadership is safe from automation deserves serious challenge, and that business education has not yet reckoned with what that means.
Workplace wellbeing programmes are widely offered and widely trusted. A 2024 study of 46,000 workers finds that participants report mental health outcomes no better than those who received nothing at all.
Not all leadership styles affect employee mental health equally. A 2023 meta-analysis of 93,000 participants finds that what protects wellbeing and what causes harm may require very different things from those in charge.
When it comes to community responsibility, boxing gyms stand apart. CSR has long been embedded in boxing culture, particularly in grassroots gyms within working-class communities. These gyms have historically served as safe spaces for troubled youth and individuals facing hardship. Gym owners and coaches regularly donate time, resources, and personal support to help others. Many world-class boxers began their journeys in these environments, including Mike Tyson, Canelo Alvarez, and Tyson Fury. Trainers such as Cus D'Amato are remembered not only for producing champions, but for dedicating their lives to guiding and supporting people beyond the ring.
Many of us have experienced bosses whose behaviours we colloquially see as psychopathic, and this makes for attractive click-bait. The reality is however far more nuanced.
