WhatsappThere is no person who is probably better suited to discuss the nature of leadership today than Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is not merely an enormously successful leader. He is a true student of history with deep knowledge of what has worked in the past and what ought to work in the future.
Netanyahu has been coined by many supporters of his as Israel’s Churchill, the man who met the moment in history. It seems that the Iranian threat and Barack Obama’s pressure on Israel did not prevail in weakening Israel because of Netanyahu’s determined focus on deterrence. But, in some ways Netanyahu has surpassed Churchill in that he has reinvented himself time and again in order to stay in touch with his electorate. Churchill was sometimes out of touch with his constituents and was elected out of office following his masterful leadership during World War II. Netanyahu always seems to know exactly where the people are holding and has an enormously solid following that elects him time and again, and drives his opposition crazy.
But leadership is more than being a wily politician who knows how to sell their wares to the public and deliver on promises. It is about having a deep-seated ideology that moves people and changes the norms in order to make the world a better place. It is about knowing when and how to react to unexpected developments in the world in such a way that one is not swallowed up by the waves of history, but rides the waves, guides them when possible, and shifts along with them.
The young Netanyahu did not focus on the hi-tech revolution that would happen in Israel beginning in the 90’s. There was not internet in the 80’s when Netanyahu began his fast-paced climb up Israel’s political ladder. National security was the #1 issue. Netanyahu understood this and built his reputation on this when he was still in his 30’s as the best spokesman that Israel had to the world. Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir brought Netanyahu everywhere to represent Israel and Netanyahu always shined whenever the cameras were in his face. He established himself as Mr. Security.
But then, he saw that the hi-tech revolution was not just a side issue, but a core part of the foundation for building up Israel’s security. So, he shifted and spoke about freeing up the shackles of the Israeli economy in order to build Israel’s independence and financial well being. He even made unpopular moves as Finance Minister that led to his vilification among many. But over the long term, most have judged his moves as being extremely effective at freeing up Israel to flourish and thrive as the Start-Up Nation.
Forty years later, Netanyahu is not slowing down. He continues to lead Israel for the 5th decade of his political life. He is indeed a modern-day leader to be reckoned with and learn lessons from.
