As a country and Commonwealth mourns the passing of its beloved Queen, it is an opportunity to reflect on the deep and lasting legacy of a lifetime of leadership.
Leadership as we know comes in all shapes and sizes and is constantly evolving. No one has the monopoly on good leadership, but from time-to-time history presents us with a model so exemplary, a beacon of light so bright that it touches every part of our social fabric and indeed of the world.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was just such a beacon of light. Her values of humility, honesty, grace and resilience were so finely tuned, so clear in their impact, that her legacy will be felt for generations to come.
At Verosa, we very often talk to our leaders about their living legacy. We ask them to consider what it is that they would like to be remembered for as leaders and to pay attention to how they can be living that legacy right now, today. We talk to our leaders about the privilege of leadership and also of the responsibility; the fact that as leaders they will be visible and ‘on a platform’ for all to see. We invite them to consider that every day they will be having an impact in ways and in areas that they may never know about.
Queen Elizabeth was a leader who knew this to her core. She lived her life in the public eye and never wavered from that scrutiny. In a leadership role that spanned decades, she never shied away from her responsibility as monarch, nor did she seem to resent the unrelenting public interest in some of her most private – and at times painful – human experiences.
The nature of her leadership power was nuanced and complex. With no decision-making or constitutional rights, she required a different leadership strategy. Her authority and her power derived ultimately not from an active role in governing her country, but from her ability to role-model what good – and modern – leadership looks like.
She listened. She listened with a grace and empathy that Daniel Goleman (the Godfather of Emotional Intelligence) would be floored by. With so many to listen to, how on earth was she able to be present enough to make whomever she was interacting with feel so very heard? But that she did.
She owned her own leadership challenges. Her advisors and speech writers report that even when they advocated ‘skirting’ or ‘re-framing’ an issue to soften its edges, Her Majesty insisted upon looking into the lens of the camera and being ‘real’. Think of her “annus horribilis” speech of 1992.
She worked tirelessly in service of others. As Rev. Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury declared at Her Majesty’s funeral, such depth of service in a leader is so very rare. At the tender age of 21, the then Princess Elizabeth promised that she would dedicate her life to the service of her country, the Commonwealth and the world. Few can be in any doubt that she kept this promise to the end.
She managed her own emotions for the good of others. Elizabeth recognised that her role called for that most difficult mix of stoicism and humanity, all the while knowing that she could only use her position to influence and lead by example.
Lead by example she did. Touching the hearts of the humblest of her citizens to the most powerful heads of state. She valued the person, the very core of the person underneath all the trappings and she espoused that oh so challenging platinum rule – to treat others not as you yourself would choose to be treated, but instead, to treat others as they would choose to be treated.
Now, as she is laid to rest, it is an opportunity to honour her legacy. Some will lay flowers, some will say prayers, some will donate to charity. As leaders, we will have the opportunity to reflect on an exemplary life of service and consider for ourselves how much we can learn from our late Queen.
Rest in Peace Your Majesty.