And so it begins. Another year, another series of The Traitors serving as part gameshow, part behavioural skill masterclass. 

Once again guided by playfully morose host Claudia Winkleman, the show returns to a familiar dilemma: how does one confidently make judgements and influence others when clarity is scarce?

Strip away the cloaks, rituals and castle walls, and The Traitors provides the answers to that conundrum. More often than not, successful leadership and team-building is earned through credibility, timing and consistency – often in moments where certainty is impossible.

If that dynamic feels familiar, it’s because it mirrors several aspects of our lives, especially when it comes to workplace dynamics. 

Influence Is Becoming More Human

As organisations flatten and roles become less rigid, influence is no longer solely dependent on hierarchy. The people who carry weight in an organisation aren’t always the most senior, or authoritative, but those who demonstrate sound judgement, emotional awareness and the ability to steady others when things feel uncertain.

That shift is reflected in how workers themselves view the skills that will matter most in the future. Employment Hero data from Employment Uncovered shows that while technology and data skills remain the top priority at 48%, the next most valued strengths are distinctly human. Empathy and wellbeing follow at 12%, care and looking after others at 10%, business and financial skills at 8%, sustainability and ethics at 7%, and design and creative skills at 6%.

Clearly, the skills that help people navigate ambiguity, read situations and bring others with them are becoming harder to ignore. 

Why This Matters More In Small Businesses

For small business leaders, it’s a reality that hits closer to home. There are fewer buffers in smaller teams and the impact of individual decisions is amplified. One misjudged moment can ripple quickly through a business, just as a calm, well-timed intervention can steady an entire group. SMEs need people who can wear multiple hats, combining technical know-how with empathy, judgement and practical business sense.

How we respond to pressure is also a key measure of success in leadership and team-building. Series after series of The Traitors demonstrates that emotionally spent contestants often fade into the background. They speak less, hesitate to challenge others and struggle to advocate for themselves at the roundtable, which can quickly lead to their banishment. 

Workplaces see a similar pattern. Employment Hero’s Employment Uncovered data shows the number one reason people take a sick day is feeling mentally or emotionally burnt out, cited by 49% of workers.

Judgement Matters When Clarity Is Scarce

As AI and automation continue to reshape work, the value of these human skills will only increase. Technology can process information quickly, but it can’t navigate moral grey areas, sense unease in a room or decide when discretion matters more than speed.

For SME leaders, building teams with strong judgement, communication skills and emotional awareness shapes how pressure is handled, conflicts are resolved and decisions are made when the path forward isn’t obvious. Fairness, consistency and the ability to explain decisions clearly all help to build credibility in environments where certainty is rare.

Lessons From The Roundtable

The most revealing moments on The Traitors aren’t always the dramatic twists. They’re the moments where someone listens carefully, adapts their view or speaks with calm authority. 

As Series 4 returns to screens this year, audiences will of course tune in for The Traitors’ characteristic suspense and speculation. But beneath the drama sits a reminder that extends far beyond the castle walls. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about how you behave when you don’t.