Lessons in leadership

Lessons in leadership

I am no fan of books on leadership. Indeed, it’s quite the opposite. However, I like observing leaders and reading accounts of them.

And so, to Winston Churchill. On a friend’s recommendation, I read Churchill: a Life by Martin Gilbert (Holt, 1991). At 1066 pages it’s a big read and a great bedtime page turner. The book tells of Churchill’s background (significant), school days (indifferent), early career (somewhat indifferent) and then the man who was made by his times and who was made for the times (magnificent).

Churchill is best remembered (and deservedly so) for his leadership of Britain in WWII, although his leadership roles in WWI and in peacetime Britain should not be overlooked. He faced opposition in most of these roles, and not just from Hitler. Much of the opposition came from the members of his own various political parties and from his foreign allies in the Russian, American and French national leaders.

Here’s a summary of what I observe about leadership in Churchill:

-         Courage before overwhelming odds

-         Persist irrespective

-         Take advice from others, but don’t be captive to it or them

-         Indefatigable energy and ceaseless work at personal cost

-         Find, and use, means to relax

-         The importance of having some close people who nurture

-         Ignore medical opinion

Of course, Churchill’s style of leadership will not be suitable for all leaders and all contexts, as his own career suggests. He flourished in crisis and before challenges, but times of peace suited him less well. As was the hour, so was the man.