One of my biggest challenges in business used to be delegation. Now you might think it was a control issue, but it wasn't. It was more that I thought the best way of achieving great leadership was through the old management principle of leading by example (i.e., participating in doing the work). And while I do still feel that pitching in to do some of the work can be a sign of good leadership, I have come to understand that a CEO's job is more to direct, encourage and support the team doing the work.

I recently read a business book on leadership and saw a wonderful quote by Lao Tzu, the Father of Taoism, which perfectly summed up the sign of a great leader, "When the best leader's work is done, the people say 'we did it ourselves.'"

What characteristics do you think define great leadership?