Leadership … Continued Discussion 3/16/09

In this post I want to share one of my absolute favorite leadership quotes.  The quote is, “Leadership is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm,” and it comes from none other than Sir Winston Churchill.

Leaders are tested in many ways and generally multiple times daily, but there probably is no more supreme test than that of leading during incredibly difficult times … when the weight on the leader’s shoulders is significant.  This is when would-be leaders crumble under such a weight.  This is when true leaders rise to another level.  This is when a leader’s followers trust in such leaders to command the moment and save the day.

But this sense of belief doesn’t just happen … it is built over time.  The leader who is calm under fire creates a following that is similarly calm in adverse situations.  Leaders cannot show panic, but instead must demonstrate the sort of positive character that will ease others through difficult times and enable them to focus on the tasks at hand.  This is when the half-full-part-of-the-glass outlook is so important.  This is when enthusiasm can win the day … even in the face of failure.

And, this is probably when a leader’s strength of character is of most importance … in response to failures-realized.  This is when a staff can absolutely sink into despair.  And, this is when a leader’s resilience, positive outlook and enthusiasm can bail-out that sinking ship.

And this brings to mind a related quote, one from Dwight D. Eisenhower.  The quote reads as follows, “a sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.”

Whether it is through enthusiasm or a sense of humor, leaders need to be able to demonstrate that all is well, even in the worst of circumstances.  Leaders set the example and lead the way.  Leaders usher their charges through the debris of the moment … they help them to see the posives that are intermingled with every negative … they help them to believe in themselves and to know with absolute certantity that there is a better tomorrow.

Author Cross-references:

Sir Winston Churchill: Also see post 7/7/09

Dwight D. Eisenhower: None

Key Word Cross-references:

Authentic/Believable/Genuine: Also see posts 1/2/09, 1/28/09, 2/18/09, 2/25/09, 10/26/09, 12/5/09, 1/4/10, 2/24/10, 5/26/10

Character/Integrity: Also see posts 2/3/09, 2/6/09, 5/1/09, 6/5/09, 8/17/09, 11/1/09, 12/5/09

Enthusiasm: Also see post 2/24/10

Optimist/Positive Attitude: Also see posts 2/19/09, 3/25/09, 7/7/09, 12/5/09, 2/24/10

Setting the Example: Also see posts 12/12/08, 1/13/09, 5/1/09, 5/17/09, 6/5/09, 7/7/09, 8/17/09, 2/24/10

Tags: Leadership