You want me to do what?

Leadership, most people assume you’re born with the traits, but I think it’s more situational than most people might realize. Look at some of our national and international leaders to see what I mean.

For decades, Winston Churchill sat on the sidelines when it came to his country’s leadership. Then when World War II started, the country instinctively reached for him and he was there rising to the pinnacle of leadership of the free world with his actions and his speech. He led a nation, but as soon as the war was over his leadership was no longer needed. The situation had changed, and he was back to being a beloved private citizen.

In our country’s history, Abraham Lincoln would shine as this type of leader. He was never thought of as a great leader until he was placed in the situation of leading his country at its toughest moment, when forces outside and within were striving to end the Union during the Civil War. As Doris Kearns explains in her great book on leadership, “Team of Rivals,” Lincoln took the very men who were his adversaries and put them in his cabinet because they were the best men for the job. They learned to follow his leadership and ultimately loved and embraced his personality. Unfortunately, Lincoln was cut down at the end of the war, but it would have been interesting to see how his leadership style would have survived the contentious reconstruction period after the war.

We all know great managers who give you instructions and explain to you what needs to be done. But the great leader not only tells you how to row the boat, but he’s also in the boat with his people trying to show you how it’s done!

Marty Pay is a retired local businessman. He was the Farmers Agent in Tehachapi and a Professor at University of Phoenix. He’s currently been doing a lot of writing for various publications.