Barbara Walters chats with Forward Syria
Swaying between art and seduction
Discussing monetary policy with the man in charge
Where the earth screams in horror
06/02/2010 - Issue 40
We Shall Not Fail
by Sami Moubayed
Winston Churchill’s granddaughter Celia Sandys wrote a brilliant book about him published in 1994 entitled “We Shall Not Fail,” outlining the leadership traits that made Churchill the exceptional prime minister that he was during World War II. These traits should become the guidebook for emerging leaders everywhere; in the corporate world, as community leaders, academics, and those immersed in the complex web of politics. These traits need to apply to the rising generations in Syria.
1) Come up with innovative ideas to ease hardships. This will endear a leader to the masses he or she is ruling. When the US stopped exporting steel to Great Britain during World War II, Churchill thought of everything to solve the crisis, from collecting iron railings from public parks and streets, to removing steel from unfinished buildings, to gathering shells from the battlefield. He would then melt and recycle them into steel to be used by the Brits. During the early years of the war, as First Lord of the Admiralty, Churchill refused complete blackouts in Britain's main cities, arguing that this would demoralize the people. He proposed switching electricity on during certain hours so that people could still go to cinemas and theaters, to keep up their spirits.
Churchill said that leaders cannot be pompous in times of war, but rather they have to show up at the front lines and share risks with the troops. He left behind one great legacy from World War II: leaders lead. It's that simple – they lead, manage, inspire and motivate people by leaping into action themselves, often with great dangers. He embellished hope in people who had every reason in the world to be miserable and defeated.
2) Revenge is sweet, but too expensive for a nation wanting to end its strife and turn a new page in its history.
3) Never forget the power of humor. Churchill was a very funny man and his humor is one of his most memorable traits.
4) Always speak of success – not of failure or defeat. Again, this is magic on the moral of the people. Churchill always looked and sounded like a leader, with his "battle-face," resolute voice and the memorable "V" sign (later copied with great success by the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat).
Churchill never mentioned the word "surrender." He always tried to hold back bad news and reduce signs of negativity. He knew that in a democracy he could not control the media, but at least, he could set its tone.
5) Invent inspirational quotes to motivate others. Leaders should invent quotes for history that will inspire hope for generations to come, such as Churchill's famous: "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
6) Praise heroes - especially when times are rough. Once during WWII German planes attacked Great Britain, striking at air fields, docks and factories. British fighter pilots downed 76 planes, prompting the prime minister to say, "Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few."
7) Never be afraid to show emotions. Churchill cried when hearing ugly stories of burned or wounded civilians in war.
8) Master public speaking. Oratory skills are the greatest God ever bestowed in man, Churchill would say. In his early career Churchill was not a good public speaker, suffering from a strong lisp of tongue that he learned to overcome with endless hours of practice.
9) Find an intellectual dimension to your character. In addition to politics, Churchill used to love painting, reading and writing. In a career that spanned 50 years he wrote 44 books, authored 800 long articles and one screenplay on Napoleon.
10) Find a sweetheart, because nothing can inspire a man to do great things better than a smart woman, beautiful in appearance as well as from within.
Churchill was first and foremost a man who loved life and lived it abundantly. He enjoyed everything he did. A president, he would say, by definition, is a "chief executive of a republic," while a leader is "one who commands others through guidance and influence, not necessarily through political office." It is all about talent, style, and character, he would say. When he laughed, he laughed with passion. When he smoked, he smoked with passion. When he drank, he drank with passion. When he loved he poured his heart out. And when he led, he led with passion as well.
