I am constantly being reminded, as a manager, of my responsibilities as a leader. Yet when I try to 'lead' I am constantly reminded of the tight boundaries within which that leadership must take place.

I find myself tethered to the ideal of leadership of those above me, who wish me to exercise leadership providing it meets with their approval and dosen't diminish their power.

So critical thinkers and half-decent leaders may find that they have to pander to the whims of those above them adopting an obsequious persona to climb the corporate ladder. What happens when they then reach that position themselves? Will they welcome the type of leader they originally aspired to be? Or will they succumb to self-preservation and become what they once sought to displace?

My grandfather used to say that the first thing that they should teach you at school is how to learn. How true! I've certainly benefited from analysing my learning style, particularly learning the techniques that I preferred NOT to use and why. Hmm, what do you think may come next, helping children to realise that they're all different and giving them some tools to work as teams?

Thanks for linking to that article, which I found quite moving. It sounds like the seven-year olds are able to engage with that question with an openness and curiosity that is often sadly lacking among us grown-ups.