Value Creators
Episode #23 Moshik Temkin on Leadership By Warriors, Rebels, and Saints - Leadership Wisdom from the Pages of History
Moshik Temkin is a historian who offers an alternative perspective on leadership. He asks, do leaders make history or does history make leaders? Those two forces can’t be separated. While leaders contribute to shaping history, they are also molded by powerful historical forces. This nuanced perspective is evident in analyses of historical figures like FDR, Margaret Thatcher, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X, emphasizing the role of circumstances in leadership's response to complex historical challenges, ultimately leading to significant changes in their respective nations. The conversation explores moral leadership in the civil rights movement, comparing the approaches of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Despite their distinct styles, both leaders shared a commitment to collective progress and justice, challenging the prevailing emphasis on individual success. Temkin addresses the ethical dilemmas leaders encounter during crises, prompting reflection on the justifiability of extreme measures for the sake of victory.
How does this discussion contribute to the question of leadership in business? Leadership is subjective. We look to those who we feel can guide us, whether in politics or business. There are principles that cross both fields.
Resources:
https://www.moshiktemkin.com/warriors-rebels-saints
https://www.moshiktemkin.com/
Shownotes:
0:00 | Intro
02:03 | Leadership and Its Impact On History
07:04 | Leadership in Japanese Decision-Making During WWII
11:34 | Leadership Decisions During World War II
17:39 | Atomic Bomb Decision-Making During WWII
20:45 | Core Assumptions in Decision-Making
23:23 | Machine Making Decisions VS Individual Making Decisions
26:04 | Abysmal Leadership and The Cuban Missile Crisis
30:14 | Individual Leadership Defined With Examples
45:08 | Wrap up: Conclusion
Moshik Temkin is a historian who offers an alternative perspective on leadership. He asks, do leaders make history or does history make leaders? Those two forces can’t be separated. While leaders contribute to shaping history, they are also molded by powerful historical forces. This nuanced perspective is evident in analyses of historical figures like FDR, Margaret Thatcher, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X, emphasizing the role of circumstances in leadership's response to complex historical challenges, ultimately leading to significant changes in their respective nations. The conversation explores moral leadership in the civil rights movement, comparing the approaches of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Despite their distinct styles, both leaders shared a commitment to collective progress and justice, challenging the prevailing emphasis on individual success. Temkin addresses the ethical dilemmas leaders encounter during crises, prompting reflection on the justifiability of extreme measures for the sake of victory.
How does this discussion contribute to the question of leadership in business? Leadership is subjective. We look to those who we feel can guide us, whether in politics or business. There are principles that cross both fields.
Resources:
https://www.moshiktemkin.com/warriors-rebels-saints
https://www.moshiktemkin.com/
Shownotes:
0:00 | Intro
02:03 | Leadership and Its Impact On History
07:04 | Leadership in Japanese Decision-Making During WWII
11:34 | Leadership Decisions During World War II
17:39 | Atomic Bomb Decision-Making During WWII
20:45 | Core Assumptions in Decision-Making
23:23 | Machine Making Decisions VS Individual Making Decisions
26:04 | Abysmal Leadership and The Cuban Missile Crisis
30:14 | Individual Leadership Defined With Examples
45:08 | Wrap up: Conclusion