LEADERSHIP STRATEGY PROFILE: WINSON CHURCHILL
LEADER PROFILE: Winston Churchill
- the British lion who roared
Winston Churchill had illustrious career as a journalist, author, statesman and politician. He held a variety of cabinet positions in the British government from 1906 to 1929. When he was out of office for the ten years that followed, he had time to write and think deeply. This sabbatical, in his own opinion, prepared him for his role as an allied leader during the Second World War. 
On September 3, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany and Churchill returned to the cabinet as first lord of the admiralty. Six months later he became prime minister. Britain and the other Commonwealth countries rallied around his indomitable spirit. He purposely cultivated his “bulldog” image, recognizing that every public act was an opportunity to send a powerful signal. Behind the scenes, however, his time was spent coping with an enormous administrative burden.
Perhaps his greatest challenge was the quiet diplomacy required to bring other countries, notably the United States, into the war. Without them, he knew he could not win. France was overrun shortly after Churchill became prime minister. Germany counted on getting possession of the French navy. Churchill gave the French admiralty six hours to sail their ships into British ports or be sunk. It has been suggested that more negotiation might have won him the entire French navy without firing a shot. But Churchill wanted to show both sides that, unlike its predecessor, his government would stop at nothing to win.
“My policy is to wage war,” he said in is first broadcast as prime minister. “War without stint. War to the uttermost.” In the darkest days he painted an unshakable picture of a defiant unbroken nation that would go on fighting until ultimately victorious. Even before war was declared, he envisioned what be needed to make victory possible. He understood the need for a build up forces, for technological innovation, and for alliances with other countries.
Throughout the war he personified for a great people the struggle to defend democracy and freedom from tyranny. He challenged people to make a unified effort. “Let us go forward together,” was his favorite slogan. After the war, Churchill insisted it was Britain that had the lion’s heart. “I had the luck to be called on to give individuals to contribute as a leader was undeniable. He was unusually effective and consistent in inspiring individuals to contribute well beyond their limits.
Quite apart from his capacity to inspire, Churchill had the ability to organize masses of people. His clear directions left no room for the disorganization and confusion that reigned prior to his appointment during the first six months of the war.Churchill’s speeches contain many famous lines. The signal running through each speech was determination and defiance. He converted every public act into a microcosm of his nation’s will to resist. He carried on with his personal duties in London during the blitz, making no concessions to danger, accepting the same conditions as the general public, demonstrating at every opportunity that he would not run from the enemy.
When Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, Churchill immediately began negotiating to win Stalin to the Allied side. Many of his Conservative colleagues spoke out strongly against any alliance with communist. Churchill, who had schemed for years looking for ways to overthrow Soviet government, insisted that anyone prepared to fight Hitler was an ally.
To highlight the essence of Churchill’s leadership, look at the following. Churchill’s application, follows the equation.
A leadership equation:
(from: The “I” of the Hurricane: Creating Corporate Energy)
Gaining commitment from executives to do something more than engage in philosophical debate about inspirational leadership and the generation of corporate energy challenged us to put the concept into terms that even the most rational people would be capable of following.
L = (CV +V)SS X ALR
C
“This is the most workable model of organizational transformation and the achievement of excellence that I have seen.”
Dr. Ronald Lippitt, professor emeritus University of Michigan
Inspirational Leadership (L) generates energy because of being aware of underlying (CV) cultural values that the leader and a critical mass of potential followers believe in, plus having a mental picture or (V) vision of a place to go or a new way of being. CV and V are multiplied by the use of (SS) signaling skills to send consistent signals through day-to-day behavior in a manner that models the leader’s personal commitment to the organization’s vision and cultural values. Effective leaders accept that (C) challenge is a corporate asset and the legitimate responsibility of followers. When challenge is met with (ALR) appropriate leader response —appropriate meaning getting the job done, but in a way that further reinforces vision and cultural values. What would have been resistance energy, is transferred to task. The process of signaling (SS) and altering the balance between challenge (C) and appropriate response (ALR) in support of cultural values (CV) and vision (V), is the essence of leadership.
The Churchill Application:
Values:
- Democracy and freedom from tyranny
- Loyalty to country
- Unity and cooperation
Vision:
- Victory of democracy over tyranny
Signaling:
- “V” for victory
- the defiant and uncompromising tone of speeches
- slogans like: “Let us go forward together.”
- carrying on in London during the blitz
Appropriate Leader Response to Challenge:
- firing on the French fleet
- negotiating with Stalin