By taking a look at history’s leaders, we can learn from their successes as well as their failures.
General Lee’s men didn’t know why he gave certain instructions or why he failed to communicate his thoughts. As a leader, it is easy to have the vision in our minds but if we don’t communicate it effectively we will lose the war.
At a critical time General Lee didn’t listen to his generals and was unable to adapt to the changing circumstances around him. Frequently taking inventory of the situation around you and adapting will help you stay on top.
Winston Churchill was a leader who was strategic in all he did, including his career, as he intentionally took specific positions to increase his influence.
Churchill valued these character traits as a leader and they served him well in his leadership capacity.
For individuals to be successful when given a responsibility, they need to be given equal authority in order to carry out their duties; otherwise it will only lead to failure. Churchill felt that the further back you could look in history, the further ahead you could see.
Counseling together is different than collective decision making. One is about gathering the best insights to help inform a decision; the other only leads to “temporizing” (or meeting in the middle), which is ineffective. Strong leadership listens but also knows when to make a decision.
The Americans rocked the Nazis at the Battle of the Bulge due in large part to Eisenhower’s leadership. He led in almost opposite manner and approach to Hitler, and it served Eisenhower well.
