For many of us, the Queen has been a steady presence in our lives for all our lives. Whilst there are conflicting views about the institution of monarchy the person that has been the head is a study in leadership. Even those bothered by the notion of royalty, or the institution would have been struck by the qualities she demonstrated as leader. Those qualities are a credit to her personality and attributes as a leader. In the immediate aftermath of her passing, it feels appropriate to outline some of what she embodied.
Duty and Discretion
For an institution with many detractors, she represented a stoic anthesis to controversy. We know how she felt it was her duty to bring people together to emphasise what unites people rather than differences. We see this in her diplomacy in various areas around the world from Northern Ireland to the Commonwealth. We’ve also learnt about her weekly meetings with the Prime Minister, where she created a safe space for confidences to be shared and all conversations remained confidential.
Leadership as service
Aged 21 the Queen dedicated the rest of her life to the service of her people.
Since her passing we’ve heard several times mentions of her belief that her role was to ‘serve’ the communities of her Kingdom and the Commonwealth and she adopted charitable causes and interests that were based on her beliefs. The idea that leaders serve others not their own interests and causes of the community is evident in the rich and full life she lived even in her last days.
Diligence and Dedication
We have all been struck by the fact that 2 days before she died the Queen saw the process of welcoming in a new Prime Minister and accepting the resignation of the outgoing Prime Minister. What a feat! For anyone that has had the misfortune to be struck by the vulnerability of illness, you can imagine the longing for a day of rest, a day of to recuperate. But no! The stoical Queen, even in her last days she demonstrated the deliberate act of putting mind over matter to execute what was required.
Work ethic
We’ve heard the stories of her indomitable energy. The way she would attend to her work whether it was networking, attending meetings, weekly briefings with ministers, bringing herself up to date with policy issues. In leadership roles, much of the work can go unnoticed, the outcomes are often long term and transformational but not always immediate. Yet how many have been amazed at the way she devoted her time up until the last moment to do her constitutional duty.
Symbol of stability
We only recognise what leadership represents when it is no longer there. Politicians may come and go; the Queen’s presence has been constant. She has represented order at times of crisis and chaos. One of the key attributes that seemed to embody her personality and the ways she has led is calm stability
There are those that rail against the privilege and the hierarchy that epitomises the Royal Family. Politics and such reflections do not seem appropriate now. Indeed in thinking about the outpouring of emotion with her passing one can’t help but reflect on her impact as a leader. We don’t choose our position in life whether you’re born into privilege of poverty, but we can choose how we live our life and whether our purpose is to serve ourselves or others.
