In 1944, Winston Churchill requested to be on the beaches at D-Day. It was important, he thought, that his men saw him leading from the front. His cabinet was horrified and only direct intervention by King George VI stopped Winston from pulling on a helmet and storming into Normandy on June 6th.
The historical model of leadership tells us that great leaders are born with all the requisite skills required for leadership and are ‘destined’ to become great. Modern psychology disagrees: leadership is something you can (and should) learn and develop.
When the D-Day for your business comes, will you be ready to meet it head on?
Here are some of the traits you will need.
Emotional learning – Do you understand what motivates people? Can you implement incentives, and are you articulate enough to inspire others? Can you give rousing speeches and make the correct choices under pressure as Churchill did? Can you surround yourself with the right people and take their advice, regardless of what you personally feel about them?
Understanding your intrinsic skillset – Do you understand what your motivations are? Do you understand your own limitations and, more importantly, are you prepared to admit weaknesses occasionally and to take advice when it’s needed? Great leadership requires great understanding.
Listening – Would you, as Churchill did, step away from the front line when it was the right thing to do, regardless of how strongly you felt? Or are you the sort of leader likely to charge ahead, screaming at everyone for disobeying your directions as your company and your dreams burn around you?
Before WWII, Adolf Hitler was considered a far superior leader than Churchill.
The two men differed on one major personality point, though. Listening. Hitler rarely listened to those around him and was convinced he was always right. This eventually led to invasive paranoia, becoming sceptical and arrogant. As Berlin fell he disconnected from those around him.
Churchill, on the other hand, listened to those in his closest team throughout WWII. It was something he’d learned the hard way after the First World War. As he slowly matured into one of history’s greatest statesmen, Churchill learned the vital lesson of when to back down and when to hold his ground.
Good leadership isn’t about getting your own way, it’s about knowing when you should listen to those around you – just like Winston did. At Anthony Gregg Partnership, our leadership consultation services can help you to take charge.