What leaders can learn from how Julius Caesar won followers and managed rivals

Paul Vanderbroeck | 27 Oct 2025

One of the secrets to Julius Caesar's success was the way that he developed and marketed a personal brand based on values and delivering on these values.

Cyber security and the psychology of risk

Alexei Hnatiwis

Real cyber-security resilience demands far more than just ticking boxes. It requires reshaping fundamental behaviours, language and assumptions around risk.

What young graduates want in a manager

Geneviève Houriet Segard

Why do some young graduates thrive from day one at work while others struggle to settle in? The answer often comes down to one key figure in the office: their manager.

The significant other: redefining modern leadership families

Amy Speake

A male leader with a stay-at-home wife is seen as normal. But if the situation is reversed, it's still seen as unusual. This outdated imbalance needs to be called out.

Let's use AI to save the workforce, not replace it

Robin Adda

AI doesn't always have to be a job-destroying villain. Used responsibly, it can be a powerful driver of up-skilling and a vehicle for improving the future of work

Build, buy, borrow, bot: tackling the talent crisis

Ciara Harrington

Organisations will only stay competitive if they replace outdated workforce strategies with models that are dynamic, inclusive, and future-ready.

How AI can help prevent burnout in leaders

Dr Lisa Turner

There's a quiet revolution happening in how AI supports human growth. It's not just about faster answers. It's about deeper alignment and smarter guidance.

From the archive

Morale: a moving target

Duane Dike

What we think we know about morale is probably wrong, especially the black and white notion that morale is either 'good' or 'bad'. Like most human feelings, morale is a moving target, which is why being sensitive to its nuances is such a key skill for leaders.

Dan Bobinski

What inhibits workplace learning?

Dan Bobinski

To remain competitive, organizations need to learn faster than the competition. But knowing that and doing that are two different things – and far too many leaders seem to think that they don't need to learn anything more to succeed.

David Livermore

Communication differences on diverse teams

David Livermore

Differences in communication styles can be a constant source of conflict on diverse teams. Understanding these differences is key to building trust, avoiding misunderstandings and leading more effectively.

Bob Selden

Why isn't good leadership recognized?

Bob Selden

He lets others take the limelight. He encourages his people to make decisions. He delegates. He asks for others' opinions before giving his own. Sounds like great leadership to me. So why are so many people sniping at James L. Jones, President Obama's national security advisor?

Dan Collins

Trust pays dividends

Dan Collins

If there's one lesson that we need to learn from the current recession, it is that in the long run, trust pays dividends. That means businesses choosing to operate with integrity - not just as a marketing tactic, but as a value that attracts and retains the best people.

Earlier opinion

Legal thinking belongs at the management table

Sarah Clark

Legal thinking should be a core part of effective management. Treating it as an afterthought or a clean-up operation is when things unravel.

Pay vs benefits: What really matters to employees?

Ian Nicholas

Do employees still prioritise pay, or are other benefits are now playing an equally important role in shaping job satisfaction and loyalty?

The case for connection: reclaiming the human side of work

Sonya Alexander

As artificial intelligence redefines the workplace, we risk losing touch with the very interactions that underpin effective teams and resilient organisations.

Why leaders should trust their intuition

Lynda Shaw

Leaders who balance their gut feelings with analytical thinking make faster, more authentic decisions, especially when navigating complexity in fast-paced environments.

Why neurodivergent leaders are still made to feel like outsiders

Michelle Carson

It's about time that organisations start addressing the structural realities that continue to marginalise neurodivergent professionals in the workplace.

Balancing the corporate gender tightrope

Megan Seibel

Gender inequality remains entrenched on corporate boards. So is a better understanding cognitive diversity the answer to getting more women in the boardroom?

How fractional leadership reduces executive burnout

Sara Daw

As ever-increasing pressures make traditional full-time executive roles psychologically unsustainable, the structure of leadership needs a significant rethink.

Remote work under scrutiny

Konstantin Joergensen

Across the EU and beyond, labour laws are evolving to reflect the emergence of flexible working. Here’s what HR leaders must know as regulations tighten.

How to have hope amid political chaos

David Livermore

Amid chaos and dysfunction, it's worth remembering that most people, most of the time, are inclined toward fairness, cooperation and kindness.

Breaking the silence: supporting men's mental health in the workplace

Nathan Shearman

Managers can play a pivotal role in supporting male employees' mental health by creating safe spaces, recognising masking behaviours and promoting vulnerability.

Long-distance leadership: letting go and leaning in

Wayne Turmel

Leading a remote or hybrid team requires a different mindset than you may have had if everyone was all together in the same physical space.

Has traditional team building had its day?

Zoe Carter-Owen

UK companies spend around £200 million annually on company away days and team-building activities. But does this investment really enhance productivity or collaboration?