SIR JOHN WHITMORE chairman of Performance Consultants International, which has a range of public and private sector clients

Treat people as human beings.

If you see people as tools, you won’t get very far. Asking how someone is shows that you respect them as an individual.

Manage yourself before you manage others. It’s important to know what’s inside you and around you before you try to lead the rest.

Take ownership. Personal responsibility can seem threatening because it means there’s someone to blame. But without responsibility you can’t make decisions.

Be adaptable. Reevaluate your responsibilities with every change in circumstances, big or small. Huge issues, such as the environment, are affecting all organisations. Responding to change is crucial.

Welcome a crisis. I nearly died of meningitis and came out of it a changed person. A crisis in your business or personal life teaches you to accept your own fragility and makes you stronger.

Risks mean potential. As a racing driver I learnt that the faster you go, the more setbacks you have. But trying new courses of action is the only way you will ever really achieve anything.

Trust your capabilities. Sport taught me that your reserves of strength are greater than you think. Don’t tiptoe around. Ignore what you see as your boundaries and you’ll gain confidence.

Learn to be humble. Leaders are often arrogant, but as you become more successful humility means that you will listen to others and in doing so gain their respect.

Forget the material. Men especially can become too attached to fancy objects. If you find yourself crying over a scratched car, it’s time to take a step back and reassess what’s really important.

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