"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others." Bill Gates It is accepted wisdom that a good leader "empowers" their followers but what does that mean in practice? It means accepting that you don't know everything. It means accepting that you can't do everything. Empowering people means giving them real responsibility for the success of the joint venture. Giving away responsibility is a visible act of trust and it allows followers to contribute. We live in a time of increasing speed and complexity in all areas of our lives. If a leader fails to accept that success means trusting others they will fail to achieve their potential.