Churchill Leadership Trait: Collaborations

Winston Churchill was a master at building alliances with others. This was perhaps his most crucial leadership trait.

US neutrality at the start of the second World War was apparently set in stone, it was certainly set in the US statute. On top of that Roosevelt and Churchill did not initially hit it off on a personal level. Despite this Winston made it his concerted effort to build a strong coalition with the US - to great effect: It won the war. Churchill once said: "No lover ever studied every whim of his mistress as I did those of president Roosevelt" and he worked on this role of his leadership harder than on any other.

Listen and Consult

Always, the great democrat Churchill listened and took advice from others - including, often from his sensible and loving wife Clementine. In military matters he would never ultimately over-rule his Chiefs of Staff...but he could and would argue most forcibly though to test the robustness of their argument. It took strong men to stand up to him. Men such as the Great Field Marshall Lord Alanbrooke.

Avoid "Yes-Men"

Alanbrooke's meticulous, cautious style often clashed with winston's natural swashbuckling rumbustiousness. Both men were however incredibly tough, brave and ready for the fight. Though there were times of tension between them (to say the least) the combination of the two different approaches only enriched the allied grand strategy. It is to Churchill's great credit that he chose to collaborate with those who would argue and debate rather than to surround himself with "yes-men". Alanbrooke was never a yes-man! Modern day leaders take note!

Create other Leaders

Churchill sought out the best people to be leaders for each key department. He had a particular talent for spotting talent: however unorthodox or unpopular with others some of those decisions were. He was a talent fanatic. Great Leaders find or create other Great Leaders - they don't focus on creating followers.

Collaborate but Persuade

Churchill could be immensely persuassive. This persuassion could take many forms: from aggressive ebulliance to flattery and charm. He was persistant too in his persuassion. He sent 1,300 telegrams to Roosevelt - some short and sharp, others long and well crafted (famously one letter took Churchill 2 whole weeks to write and re-write!). Ultimately, Churchill's persuassion of FDR worked. FDR and the USA became great allies with Britain and the Commonwealth and the US was persuaded that Germany was the US's primary enemy and that Japan could wait. Collaborate and Persuade.

Compromise for the Greater Good

Churchill was always prepared to put old rivalries behind him. In national politics, he built a Cabinet of Ministers from all leading parties and wings of his own (split and distrustful) party. Internationally of course he even built a working alliance with Stalin after Hitler's invasion of the USSR. And no one was more anti-communist than Churchill. In Britain, the mass-murdering Stalin was affectioately portrayed as avuncular "Uncle Joe" at the time! A willingness to compromise and be flexible for the sake of the overall goal and greater good is a key leadership trait.

Delegate yet Remain Involved

Churchill was a master of delegation - though in a very Churchillian way! He could be a terrible meddler. His incredible appetite for detail often lead him to interfere with subordinates work to a greater detail than one would normally recommend. Whilst an interferring boss is not by definition a bad thing, typically the more capable the subordinate the less kindly they take to being micro-managed! However, Winston's great ability to quickly comprehend and assimilate detail plus his vitality and charm meant that most people forgave him and indeed welcomed his input (some of the time at least!). Delegate...but be passionately involved.

Network Widely

Perhaps Churchill's alliance building, networking and personal involvement with those around him is easy to understand when one remembers his many enduring friendships. Churchill was always a social man who sought the company of interesting friends such as Lords Beaverbrook and Birkenhead, who relished debate and discussion and who held many and broad interests. Leadership is not a popularity contest (even in democracies) but a capacity to forge alliances is vital. Churchill was a master at it - this Churchill Leadership Trait saved the free World.

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