Who Taught Winston Churchill Leadership?

In preparing the next generation of leaders whether it be in EMS, H/EMS, or any other industry it is interesting to me that we think there are systematic ways in which we can train leaders.

I should note first off I believe in education: i.e. new information which changes behavior.  I would also agree that there are programs to teach managers, but I am not so sure that leaders can be taught in quite the same way.

Sitting in a discussion with a dozen colleagues recently that was the assertion made by a very capable individual.  Still, I am not sure he understands the dynamics of leadership that requires individual attention to details, goal setting, being able to encourage others to follow those goals, and the required follow through that is essential to every leader.

From my experience, Winston Churchill was never sat down and told this is how you will be a leader.  He never used a committee approach to find success.  Rather he defined where his nation would go during a critical period of history and he went there.  He took his country from appeasement with the Nazis to outright war against them - a far greater opponent in terms of military size and capability.

Nonetheless the sheer willpower he exerted was clear to all as he brought Great Britain not only pride, but returned his national to an almost Elizabethan golden era.  He was one of the leaders who helped sweep the Nazi scourge to the ash heap of history where it belonged.

Again I don’t believe Winston Churchill had anyone sitting down tutoring him and how to be a leader just did it is most leader seem to do.  Now if I can find a way to do the same with this group, I might be lucky enough to be a footnote in the chronicles of leadership.