Leading at a Distance?
When I look back at the leaders who have influenced my life the most, I find that they were primarily people that I have known personally. I felt valued by their relationship and approachability and therefore opened myself up to them and to their ideas. Those leaders won my following because they connected with me and went out of their way to show that they cared about me. Relatability is a definite strength of leadership. So is vulnerability. Which is why I was slightly confused about a certain former President of the United States: George Washington. I am sluggishly chipping away at Ron Chernow’s biography entitled: Washington a life , and I was surprised to find out that George Washington’s leadership style was not at all the approachable and relatable kind that I have found so influential personally. Washington was often described as “aloof” and hard to figure out. In public Washington held his cards close to his chest. People were mystified by this m...