Member-only story
5 Lessons From Winston Churchill’s Communicative Leadership
The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” — Ronald Reagan
Communication is the act of exchanging information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium. It is the use of messages and words to generate meaning, both within and across diverse cultures, contexts, channels and media. Regardless of your position or responsibility, effective communication is your ticket to success if you can pay attention and learn to do it effectively.
Winston Churchill is best remembered as the British prime minister whose speeches rallied a nation under a relentless Nazi onslaught in World War II. Back then, the radio was the only broadcasting channel where speeches could be transmitted directly to the public, millions of people would gather around their radios to listen to him speak. In this time of chaos and darkness, Churchill’s speeches injected courage and spread hope throughout the world. His message was honest, clear and inspiring for his listeners.
On May 13, 1940, three days after Germany invaded France, Churchill gave his first speech as prime minister to the House of Commons, this speech was later broadcasted to the public. He said “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat” as he helped the country brace for hard times.
He continued “You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival”
This speech titled “Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat” represented a turning point in the war. The Nazis were overrunning much of Europe, they already invaded Holland and were about to break through into France, it seemed that Great Britain was the last country standing. This speech signalled to the Nazis that an opponent was finally standing up and declaring its will to fight, It established Churchill as an…
