"Strong leadership" might be the most overused compliment in public life. It's also rarely examined. This short piece explores why our narrow idea of strength (certainty, command, refusal to look rattled) might be doing more harm than we realise, and why the problem isn't just leaders themselves. This article draws on emerging research, including PhD work by our Head of Operations and Principal Consultant (Andrew Wills), and current events to explore emerging ideas about what’s shaping public institutions.