Queen Elizabeth - Six Lessons In Leadership

Queen Elizabeth II has ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history and has reigned over 14 prime ministers from Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson. Now, as we approach the extended bank holiday weekend to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, could this be the perfect time to reflect on what we can learn from Her Majesty The Queen's 70 years of leadership?

Here are just six lessons in leadership from the Queen’s extraordinary reign:

1. Preparing to Step Up

As soon as King Edward VIII abdicated the throne and the Queen’s father became King, the 10-year-old princess became the heir apparent and began preparing for her future role as the Queen. Elizabeth became well-versed in ceremony by observing her mother and father and was tutored on the British constitution by Henry Marten, Vice-Provost of Eton College. With the encouragement of her first private secretary, she also read Foreign Office telegrams and listened to debates in the House of Commons all before her accession to the throne. Some historians say that Elizabeth had been earmarked for the role from as early as three years old by her grandfather George V.?

Imagine having prepared for your leadership role your whole life? What kind of leader would that make you now? What could you do now to help you prepare for your next leadership role?

2. Having a Clear Purpose

The Queen’s role as Monarch requires her to be deeply involved in the life of the nation through her wide-ranging constitutional and representational duties. She also acts ‘as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity and officially recognises success and excellence’. But perhaps it’s her unwavering sense of duty and devotion to a life of service that is the true hallmark of her long reign.

Besides the roles and responsibilities of your leadership role, how would you define your clear purpose as a leader? To what extent does your clear purpose guide your behaviours and actions?

3. Being at the Service of Others

On her 21st birthday, Princess Elizabeth dedicated her whole life to the service of the Commonwealth. She said, ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.’?Then in her coronation, she pledged ‘throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.’ This philosophy of servant leadership which she adopted early on in her royal career may be the secret to her longevity.

As a leader, what acts of service could you offer your colleagues? What could you do today to help them? How could you establish greater levels of trust?

4. Leading by Example

From her time spent as a mechanic and driver in the war effort to the sheer volume of engagements she has continued to undertake in her very senior years, the Queen has consistently demonstrated her commitment and her willingness to work hard. Even in her time of grief, she sat alone in the Cathedral at her husband’s funeral, doing the right thing during the coronavirus crisis and setting an example for the Nation. The Duke of Cambridge said of his grandmother, ‘I think I speak for my generation when I say that the example and continuity proved by The Queen is not only very rare among leaders but also a great source of pride and reassurance’.

Are you leading by example? What behaviours are you role modelling for your colleagues?

5. Being Curious

The Queen’s role gives her the opportunity to interact with everyone from world leaders to members of the general public. On these occasions, regardless of their status, she is known to be very curious about people, asking questions and listening attentively to what is being said. Despite not possessing a passport, the Queen is also one of the most well-travelled heads of state in the world, having visited 116 countries over her reign. Her curiosity coupled with her extensive travel is likely to have hugely informed her growth as a leader and the type of leader she wanted to be.

What questions do you ask as a leader? Are you really listening? Do you look for inspiration in new places?

6. Embracing Change

Over her long reign, the Queen has lived through many major events and cultural milestones and she has had to learn to adapt and move with the times. This ability to embrace change has been apparent from the very beginning of her reign when she agreed to have her coronation broadcast live on television. She has continued to adapt with the technological landscape, sending her first email in 1976 and publishing her first Instagram post in 2019. The Queen has set many ‘firsts’ during her career, changing the shape of the monarchy and setting a precedent for all future British royals. "Change is a constant," said the Queen, "managing it has become an expanding discipline. The way we embrace it defines our future."

How well do you embrace change?

So there you have it. Six lessons in leadership from Queen Elizabeth II.?

It should of course be seven, one for every decade… we thought the seventh lesson may be more personal to you.?

The seventh for me would be authenticity - she knows who she is as a leader and has always been authentic and although we mostly see her serious side, she is known to have a great sense of humour, she doesn’t take herself too seriously and even manages to find time for the things she’s passionate about… horses anybody??

What would your seventh lesson in leadership be?

It seems only right that Her Majesty the Queen should have the final say on the subject of leadership. Here’s what she said about leadership during her speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2010.?

“I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.”

Well said, Your Majesty and thank you for your incredible years of service to us all.

So what’s your lesson??

Share it with us via email or in the LinkedIn feed.