History has shown that times of crisis produce the greatest leaders. Clearly 2009 is a time of crisis for not only the United States of America – but all the nations on earth. This is time when great leaders are needed. What are the characteristics of those leaders? Based on crises of the past, some of those necessary characteristics are vital in not just government but also business, education and other not-for-profit areas and science.

Lead From the Front

Throughout history the greatest leaders have led by example – sometimes described in the military as leading from the front (as in front of the troops rather than in the rear). Today we need leaders who lead by doing and not just by saying. George Patton the great World War II General was respected by his troops by often positioning himself in the front lines rather than in the rear. His men risked their lives daily and he knew they had to see that their commander was willing to do the same thing.

Negotiation

Dictators are not – in the long run – effective leaders. As a result, effective leaders need to be masters at the art of negotiation and compromise. If there is something in it for all parties then their will be a greater likelihood of acceptance or buy-in. The great leaders of history know what they want – but are willing to accept something less to achieve their long term goals and objectives. The greatest Presidents in U.S. history were masters of compromise. What they ended up with was often something less than what they desired at the outset of a program or a policy but they worked with Congress to achieve the larger goal and end up with legislation that would support their overall objectives. The same is true in business and in other fields also.

Vision

The greatest leaders in history have vision. They see what is not yet real and work – over time – to make it a reality. Not only do they formulate the vision – they have the ability to explain it in terms so that others can see and share in the vision. Franklin Roosevelt has a vision for saving the U.S. from the greatest economic disaster in the country’s history. He developed his vision; he shared it with those surrounding him and ultimately communicated it to Congress and the American public. Action followed which – over time- made his vision a reality.

Selflessness

The leader as selfless or self-sacrificing seems quaint and out of vogue today. Yet the greatest leaders in history were both selfless and self-sacrificing. Think of it as country or company or cause before self. The business leaders who offered their services to the US Government during the Great Depression and World War II for $1.00 per year are examples of this. Rather than increase their wealth on the back of these crises, they gave of themselves for something greater. The same can be said of Teddy Roosevelt who left the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy at a relatively young age to create and help lead what became known as the “Rough Riders” during the Spanish American War in 1898. He left a job he loved, his wife, children and the comforts of home to face all the danger and hardship required to win a conflict in the front lines.

Humility

The greatest leaders in history were humble and self-effacing. They did not take themselves too seriously and they acknowledged their failings. No greater example of this exists today than President Abraham Lincoln who regularly poked fun at himself. This did nothing to diminish his effectiveness as a leader – or his place in history.

Knowledge

The saying goes that “knowledge is power”. Those who hold power great or small should have and constantly increase their knowledge. It was said that President John Kennedy has “ink in his vein” because he devoured newspapers. Thomas Jefferson’s library was great and diverse. It became the foundation for the Library of Congress. By 1941, General Douglas MacArthur had one of the greatest libraries of his day with both historical and military books and was intimately familiar with most of them. Unfortunately he ordered the library dynamited when the Japanese captured Manila in the Philippines. Great leaders need to have vast amounts of knowledge – both general and specific – at the disposal when making decisions. While staff is helpful, the decision ultimately often comes down to the leader’s combination of knowledge and experience.

Communication

The great communicator was the title often given to President Ronald Regan. While he did not have the greatest education or perhaps the best credentials (an actor then governor) for a U.S. President, he did have the gift of effectively communicating his vision, his philosophy, his policies and his world view. That ability to communicate has led to his ranking as one of the greatest Presidents in U.S. history. Communication means not only speaking but also listening. And the greatest leaders in history have been excellent listeners – whether to their staffs, their constituents, their troops, their employees or their adversaries. Communicating without effective listening is only half the equation.

Decision Making

Tough times require tough and timely decisions. And the greatest leaders know how to make difficult decisions and to make them in “real time”. With the American Civil War nearing its fourth year of bloody conflict, Union General Ulysses Grant committed to fighting the Confederates non-stop without pauses to “lick his wounds”. The casualties were staggering and caused outcries by politicians, the public and the troops. His men began pinning tags with the names to the back of their uniform coats so their bodies could be identified because they were so certain of their fate. And yet Grant stuck with his decisions and brought an end to the war in April 1865. While not all decisions are life and death, leaders need to be able to make the tough decisions, make them in a timely manner and stick with them in the face of harsh criticism.

Focus

It does not good for a leader to have a vision if that vision changes daily or weekly. A great leader must have focus. That means a few key issues, concepts, programs or initiatives. In spite of many distractions and problems, General George Washington was able to get his army and the government he served to maintain a focus on whatever was necessary to keep the army trained, equipped and fed in the field. While he did not win many battles, the on-going and relentless presence of the Continental Army (rather than local militias) in the end caused the French to acknowledge and support the American’s cause and ultimately gain independence from the King of England. While there are always hundreds if not thousand’s of details and issues facing leaders, the great leaders spend the majority of time on a few critical ones and delegate the rest to competent subordinates and staff.

History is a great teacher. The great leaders throughout history had a number of key characteristics in common. The leaders of today – and tomorrow – should share those traits. All leaders whether in government, business, not-for-profits or the local PTA or food bank – should learn, understand and develop the characteristics exemplified by the great leaders of the past.

George F. Franks, III is the President of Franks Consulting Group – a management consulting and leadership mentoring practice based in Bethesda, Maryland. Franks Consulting Group is on the web at: http://franksconsultinggroup.com

George Franks can be contacted by e-mail at: gfranks@franksconsultinggroup.com