Nobody wants to be in the darkest hour, when things are at their worst and there is no easy solution or end in sight. However, it is this critical moment that people have the greatest opportunity to be the best they can be and lead others. Great leaders are remembered for their courage, empathy and commitment for doing the right thing in the darkest hour.

 

UK prime minister Winston Churchill sat at his table at 10 Downing Street in 1940, faced with an impending great military disaster—an imminent invasion from the Nazis and a possible fall out from the French. It was precisely in this darkest hour that Winston Churchill had to step up and lead the United Kingdom. In a series of speeches, he delivered instilled trust and inspired hope among his fellow countrymen.

 

Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew was thrust with a new nation wounded from years of political wrangling and faced with bleak economic prospects when Singapore had to separate from Malaysia in 1965. It was precisely in this darkest hour that Lee Kuan Yew had to take the right action and steer the destiny of Singapore.

 

This week, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern displayed strong leadership. Faced with the worst terrorist attack in New Zealand’s history, she relied on her openness and empathy that were previously seen as weaknesses to know what her people needed, and rallied the nation in spirit across religion and ethnicity.

 

What are the common denominators that epitomise Winston Churchill, Lee Kuan Yew and Jacinda Ardern’s great leadership? Amidst the turmoil and uncertainty, they overcame tremendous challenges, leveraged their greatest strengths to do the right thing and rally the people.

 

1. Great leadership involves overcoming tremendous emotional and cognitive challenges

In the darkest hour, leaders have to dig deep into core beliefs and personal qualities, in order to find hope, courage and rise above the despair. Winston Churchill, Lee Kuan Yew and Jacinda Ardern’s display of their real and raw emotions in the darkest hour reveals the very depth of their commitment to their cause. It is only when leaders overcome their emotional struggles and brave through the tremendous challenges that they can be great leaders to others.

 

2. Great leadership involves leveraging strengths and personal qualities to do the right thing

In the darkest hour, leaders also do not back away from the fire and take the easy way out. They forge ahead to salvage the situation no matter the adversity and cost, and turn pain into fortitude. Doing the right thing calls for great empathy. Winston Churchill, Lee Kuan Yew and Jacinda Ardern had to stir up their best self, leverage their mettle, conviction and compassion. Great leaders need to be self-empowered with a clear and just vision, and grounded by their character.

 

3. Great leadership involves rallying all men

In the darkest hour, leaders need to know and master their milieu, contextual pressures and constraints. Good leaders know that they need people around them to work on the cause that is greater than themselves. Winston Churchill, Lee Kuan Yew and Jacinda Ardern had great power and influence to pull in bright and average men to set out to conquer their crises and achieve their vision.

 

The essence of what makes a great leader is perspective—to view challenges and crises as opportunities for self-betterment and other’s betterment. Having the courage, empathy and commitment to stand up and lead yourself is already half the battle won. In today’s age of disruption and tumult, everyone needs to do this in their own way, not just CEOs and heads of state. LinHart believes that everyone has the latent capacity to lead themselves, and darkest hour provides the best opportunity for great leadership.