Bold, spectacular and big-budget, Ridley Scott's Roman epic ticks all the conventional boxes of a Hollywood blockbuster. Yet amidst the action and the intrigue, there are also dozens of leadership lessons on offer, too, not least from Russell Crowe's titular general-turned-slave.

Commanding absolute loyalty from his men, Crowe's Maximus knows the name of every one of his subordinates, communicates his strategies clearly to them, and, quite literally, ensures their success by leading from the front. Yet even when stripped of his command and abandoned to slavery, his charisma and organisational skills draw out his natural inclination to lead, both within the gladiatorial arena and the political storm unfurling around him. In Joaquin Phoenix's troubled Emperor Commodus, there are illustrations of mistakes to avoid, too: namely, that ruling through fear has severe limitations, and that no matter how good your intentions, surrounding yourself with the right people is vital. It can be easy to dismiss Gladiator as a swords-and-sandal revenge fantasy, but at its heart, an illustration of what it means to possess responsibility, for better or for worse.

Whether you need to communicate instructions to your team or have make-or-break conversations with a difficult client, strong communication is one of the most crucial attributes of being a good leader. To be an effective leader, you need strong interpersonal skills to exchange information and convey instructions to team members. Be like Maximus and train to have a powerful verbiage, and learn how to convey your vision to others to achieve your goals and emerge victorious!