Arguably, Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the most know women leader in the world. Leadership in woman's career was a difficult task to undertake, but the wife of Franklin Roosevelt was an exception. Driven by her personal character, philosophies, and tremendous leadership skill, she became one of the influential individual with re-known leadership skills. Eleanor Roosevelt was born in the year 1884 in New York City. In her entire life, Eleanor Roosevelt was a courageous leader who could always stand on her philosophies, as well as being in the forefront in helping does who needed her help. In fact, Eleanor Roosevelt in her great work showed women leaders and the entire world that woman leaders are in a position of proving leadership wisdom.
Eleanor’s set of personal leadership philosophy involved set of principles and beliefs, which influenced her way of interpreting reality, and as well acting as a guide in her works. As a matter of fact, Eleanor personal leadership philosophy was ambition, enthusiasm, emphatic, as well as discouragement. Discouragement is one of the leadership philosophy associated with Eleanor Roosevelt. In her rise to leadership, Eleanor faced a lot of critics as she followed her passion to lead and broke various conventions. In fact, discouragement is a strong leadership philosophy that drove Eleanor towards achieving her goals and attaining her leadership ambitions. Obstacles are crucial in the development of every leader; this is because it motivates individuals towards goal achievement. In this case, focused in her critic and ensured that they proved them wrong in all ways (Gerber, 2003).
Garber, focus on the leadership qualities of Eleanor Roosevelt. The philosophical principles of Eleanor Roosevelt include finding advisors and mentors, learning from the past, leadership training, giving voice to her leadership, embracing risk, as well as facing criticism. In addition, the philosophy of being ambitious is among Eleanor’s leadership philosophy. Eleanor converted her critics and discouragement and converted them into ambition. If Eleanor had no ambition, then she should not have achieved the objectives. Moreover, Eleanor Roosevelt had an exemplary leadership philosophy; this means that she led by examples in most of the things. Her struggle towards attainment of human rights in the United States became part of her success.
The values of Eleanor Roosevelt are believed to guide her actions, which was mostly positive. She was driven curiosity, in fact she believed that growing and learning, being open to change, and remaining curious made part of the value that a leader required. Another crucial value of Eleanor Roosevelt is honesty. Eleanor Roosevelt was plain, tolerant, selfless, and courageous lady. In times of crisis, Eleanor, used his value of being positive, reducing any mis-communication. Another value is that she had sense of human worth and humanity (Gerber, 2003).
Every great leader in the world has a past that molded her or him to be the person she/he is. Perhaps, there are many events that shaped her as a leader. One of the events is the fact that her mother treated her badly because of her looks. After, her birth Eleanor’s Roosevelt mother was extremely disappointed about her baby girl. Her mother was among the most beautiful women in New York, but Eleanor Roosevelt had a plain look. This made Eleanor have the heart to help people in many ways. Evidently, her painful experience in life enhanced her empathy and self-awareness, as well as emphasizing on how suffering can play a crucial role in liberating individuals. According to Garber (2003), difficult moments in life can break or make a leader. In this case, difficult moments of Eleanor Roosevelt became the pillar to her great leadership skills, values, principles, as well as philosophy.
Moreover, Eleanor's father was an alcoholic, meaning she passed through a lot of hardships. Unfortunately, her father and mother died when Eleanor Roosevelt was still young. Hence, she had to grow in her life without parents, especially her father whom she loved so much. At her teenage, Eleanor Roosevelt was sent to a school in Europe, this experience helped her draw out of her cocoon and develop some confidence. Her headmistress, Mademoiselle Marie Souvestre influenced her life, where she became her mentor and advisor. In fact, most of these events left Eleanor prone to life depression, but she later managed to be one of the greatest women leaders.
Eleanor’s Roosevelt role model in leadership was Mademoiselle Marie Souvestre. In school, Eleanor’s headmistress took great interest with her, where she had tremendous influence in her way of thinking, nurtured her literary, artistic talents, and education. In fact, at the age of 18, Eleanor Roosevelt returned to New York full of confidence, courage and self-esteem. In the current, society Eleanor Roosevelt has become the role model to many people, especially women.
Based on Garber (2003), Eleanor Roosevelt was a great leader and transformational leader. She demonstrated various characteristics of effective leadership. In fact, she inspired many people to part of her women's movement, and above all she inspired her husband to follow her advice. Admirably, Eleanor Roosevelt was a respectful leader, who gave her husband all the respect in his quest for presidency. Working in one of the greatest and diverse nations in the world, Eleanor Roosevelt interacted with many people. The success of every leader comes as a result of working together with people from all sorts of life. Undeniably, Eleanor Roosevelt was a courageous woman who was ready to follow her goals and ensure that human rights are followed. Even after the assassination of her husband, she continued to fight for women's rights and humanitarian issues. Effective leadership is achieved through courage. In fact, an individual who is courageous always become a majority. In leadership, courage applies when there is fear of doing something. Eleanor Roosevelt did what she was afraid to do, which included pushing for the rights of people.
One of the key characteristics of Eleanor Roosevelt that made her an effective leader is the power to give voice to the leadership. Eleanor Roosevelt did not become inspiring and brilliant public speaker from nowhere, she practiced the act of public speaking. Every leader must be good in communicating and speaking publicly. She managed to accomplish her communicative character through the writing of columns and speeches (Gerber, 2003). Eleanor Roosevelt embraced risk this is because despite the fact that she wasn’t sure of her roles, she went ahead and took various roles in the formation of the United Nations (UN). In addition, she became one of the proponents of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was like beginning a second role, because she was supposed to have retired. Hence, effective leadership is demonstrated by embracing risk and being ready to face the unknown.
The greatest characteristic was her eloquent and confident ability to face and confront conflicts, by discussing the main difference that existed. Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the leaders that never stopped learning. Effective leadership entails having an interest in global affairs and learning more about it. Eleanor Roosevelt traveled globally in her life and also took much interest in learning about cultures and diversity (Gerber, 2003). In addition, she used her speeches and column writing to educate people. Therefore, effective leadership is clearly witnessed in the life of Eleanor Roosevelt. She had tremendous values that she focused on them. In her entire career, she knew what was right and always worked towards its attainment. For example, she used her powers in developing civil rights movements for the reason that she believed that was right. Effective leadership focus on values and always stick to them, a character that Eleanor Roosevelt demonstrated.
Eleanor Roosevelt leadership had tremendous effects in the United States and the entire world. Eleanor worked diligently for the needs of less fortunate, and completed her task in a dignified manner to all people. Eleanor’s leadership affected change in society, one of her remarkable leadership that brought a lot of changes id being the chairperson of the committee that approved and drafted the Human Rights Activists. In addition, through her leadership many unemployed people could now get jobs (Gerber, 2003). For example, she started a furniture shop that served many people with jobs. Eleanor’s leadership changed the lives of many women and girls; this was achieved through the establishment of a girls' school. The leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt had an effect in the life of his husband. She acted as a wife and advisor to her husband was a president, whereby she became the First lady of the world. In fact, she remains the woman who was behind all the success of President Franklin Roosevelt. As the first lady, Eleanor championed for the rights of the less fortunate in society. She travelled to hospitals, mines, tenements, as well as prisons.
In addition, has a leader she led to the establishment of the National Youth Administration. Eleanor, was also part of the Second World War, her leadership had tremendous effects in the army bases. Also in the same era, she became assistant director of the OCD (Office of Civilian Defense). Through her leadership, she volunteered to gather civilians to offer support during the war. In general perspective, Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the tremendous and the great women in the history of the world and America. Perhaps, she way a visionary leader, who fought for what she believed, was right. Her leadership led to the development of women opportunities, and uplifting the underprivileged and downtrodden.
Reference
Gerber, R. (2003). Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt way. Paramus, N.J: Prentice Hall.
