Old School Leadership Still Matters — But It’s Not Enough Anymore

Leadership has changed.
But not everything from the past deserves to be thrown out.

I often hear leaders say things like “that style doesn’t work anymore” when talking about leadership from the 80s and 90s. And they’re not wrong — some of it doesn’t. But I think the real problem is we’ve confused evolution with replacement.

The truth is, some old-school leadership traits still matter deeply.
They just need to be paired with something that wasn’t always expected back then: empathy and emotional intelligence.

What Old School Leadership Got Right

Leadership in the 80s and 90s was often criticised for being tough, hierarchical, and emotionally distant. Fair call — there were plenty of shortcomings.
But there were also strengths we’ve quietly lost along the way.

Clarity mattered.
Leaders were expected to set direction, make decisions, and be clear about standards. People knew what was expected of them — and what wasn’t acceptable.

Accountability was non-negotiable.
Doing what you said you would do wasn’t a “nice to have”, it was the baseline. Follow-through built credibility.

Resilience was built, not avoided.
Work wasn’t designed around comfort. Stretch, pressure, and responsibility were part of growth. Leaders didn’t rush to remove challenge — they expected people to rise to it.

Authority wasn’t apologised for.
Leaders were allowed to lead. They didn’t poll every decision or outsource responsibility in the name of collaboration.

These traits created momentum, confidence, and results. And many organisations are still missing them today.

Where Old School Leadership Fell Short

Here’s the part we can’t ignore.

Leadership back then often left little room for:

• Emotional awareness
• Psychological safety
• Vulnerability
• Inclusion
• Human complexity

Feelings were something to “leave at the door”. Burnout was worn like a badge of honour. People were expected to perform regardless of what was happening in their lives.

We now know better — and we expect better.

Leadership Has Evolved (And That’s a Good Thing)
Today’s leaders are expected to do more than drive outcomes.
They’re expected to lead humans.

That means:

• Understanding that emotions are always present — whether acknowledged or not
• Recognising that trust, safety, and connection directly impact performance
• Being able to listen, not just direct
• Leading through uncertainty, not pretending it doesn’t exist
• Empathy is no longer optional. Emotional intelligence isn’t “soft”. It’s a core leadership  capability.

And here’s the important bit: empathy does not cancel out accountability.

The Sweet Spot: Old School Backbone + Modern-Day Empathy

The most effective leaders I work with don’t choose between toughness and care — they integrate both.

They:

• Set clear expectations, then genuinely support people to meet them
• Hold strong boundaries, while staying curious about what’s going on underneath behaviour
• Give direct feedback, without stripping people of dignity
• Expect ownership, while recognising humans aren’t robots

This is leadership with backbone and heart.

Not permissive.
Not authoritarian.
But grounded, human, and effective.

Getting With the Times Without Losing the Plot

If leadership today swings too far toward comfort and avoidance, we lose momentum.
If it stays stuck in outdated toughness, we lose people.

The answer isn’t choosing sides.
It’s updating the operating system.

Keep:

• Clarity
• Accountability
• Follow-through
  
• High standards
  

Add:

• Empathy
  
• Self-awareness
  
• Emotional literacy
  
• Care for wellbeing
  

That’s what modern leadership actually looks like.

And honestly?
The leaders who can blend both are the ones people trust, respect, and want to follow — especially when things get hard.