Of course there is a dichotomy of ‘listening or collaborating’ and ‘leading’. If, as Ms Middleton says outstanding/ great leaders are also highly effective listeners who identify shared goals (across different groups they represent) and then work with the trust of diverse groups to deliver on ….. then is the role of a great leader one who is open (thereby trustworthy), skilled at giving a voice to those people not normally heard, integrating that voice and helping the group they lead progress these aims whilst maintaining constant review and feedback?