ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the leadership style of a number of leaders ‘in practice’ and to identify the key characteristics that make someone an effective leader, exploring both the benefits and the risks of their particular approach. The capacity to hold the centre could be connected to the idea of resilience: holding on to the essence of the organization and maintaining a sense of wholeness, even under challenging circumstances. Manuel has provided his team with emotional and practical containment for a long time and he has made a substantial contribution to creating a culture of care and compassion in his organization. The organization reminds me of family businesses, where the emphasis is on loyalty and family values and where people from the outside are often regarded with a degree of suspicion.
