Leadership styles should transcend culture and focus on principles that have stood the test of time, such as personality, ethics and standards. Leadership is not about superiority but finding a neutral balance. Leaders must see their role as an ongoing work in progress to continually improve and solve problems, rather than believing they have achieved perfection. A leader's influence declines if they do not maintain an open and innovative approach after leaving office. Effective leadership requires building relationships upwards, downwards and across to engage citizens.