Eleanor Roosevelt as a Campaigner for Human

Leadership can come in various forms, from diverse backgrounds and exist throughout different time periods. One of the most notable leaders is Eleanor Roosevelt, who despite being a devoted mother, wife, and political right-hand, still managed to pave the way for women in leadership positions. As the First Lady, she transformed the traditional role of a presidential spouse from one of domestic duties and social entertainment to an active role in politics, independent of her husband. Her remarkable leadership skills have continued to inspire many to this day.

Before Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady's position was merely a ceremonial title without any political involvement. However, her tenure as the First Lady brought significant changes, empowering women to engage in politics during and after their spouse's presidency. Although her journey was filled with challenges, she emerged as an essential and influential role model. Her unwavering commitment to her husband, active participation in politics, and volunteer work helped her revolutionize the position of the First Lady.

One of Eleanor Roosevelt's notable strengths was her adaptability, as she was initially hesitant about being in the public eye but eventually stepped up to fulfill the duties required of her as First Lady. She recognized what was necessary and learned to excel at tasks she once disliked or avoided. Additionally, she displayed excellent organizing skills, becoming one of the most politically astute strategists of her time, despite facing significant challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field.

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On the other hand, one of Eleanor Roosevelt's weaknesses stemmed from her grandmother's constant insults about her looks, which greatly affected her self-esteem and caused her to doubt herself for an extended period. Although her confidence improved during her time at the English Finishing School, she never entirely overcame her feelings of inadequacy.

Eleanor Roosevelt had numerous opportunities that came with her family background and position in the world. Being the niece of Theodore Roosevelt and born into a wealthy family, she could afford to attend a prestigious English finishing school. However, not all her opportunities were handed to her, as she also utilized her extensive network and understood the influence she could wield as the First Lady beyond the White House.

Despite these opportunities, Eleanor Roosevelt faced significant challenges as a woman in the early twentieth century, as societal expectations dictated that women were solely responsible for housekeeping duties. Nevertheless, she sought to reshape the role of the First Lady by holding press conferences, giving lectures, entertaining officials, and sharing her opinions, which made her a target for political adversaries. Despite facing these threats, she persisted in defying traditional gender roles and fought for what she believed in.

Eleanor Roosevelt demonstrated two of the Three Skills Approaches, according to Moore (2015). She devoted significant time to advocating for the rights of marginalized groups, which exemplifies the Human Relations skill. Eleanor worked directly with individuals and spoke on their behalf when they lacked a voice of their own.

Additionally, Eleanor appears to have worked with Maslow's hierarchy of needs. By taking part in humanitarian initiatives, such as the American Red Cross during World War I, she met people's physiological and security needs. She showed an interest in and cared for people, which was significant because she was a prominent figure in that era. Eleanor also strived for equal rights for all, including African American and women's rights, which could be seen as working towards belonging in the hierarchy of needs (Moore, 2015).

Two examples of this can be found when Eleanor withdrew her membership from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) because they denied Marion Anderson, an African American singer, from performing in their auditorium, as well as when she flew with black pilots who were not receiving full credit for their skill, which led to the Tuskegee Airmen program being fully funded a few days later (National Women's History Museum, n.d.).

Eleanor Roosevelt also exhibited five of the Six P's of Leadership (Moore, 2015). She was driven by a purpose to make a difference in the world, to change the rights of those without any, and to create a role for herself as First Lady by giving the First Lady a job to do. She surrounded herself with the right people, including those she could learn from and those who could help her reach her objectives. Her passion for her work motivated her to improve every day, and she persevered even when things seemed to be falling apart or when she was criticized for stepping "out of her place as a woman.

There are countless exceptional leaders, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, who are yet to be recognized for their contributions. They are waiting for the right moment to make a difference. Every leader has their own set of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that they must navigate, but each one has the potential to leave their mark on the world in a distinctive way. Eleanor Roosevelt's impact on the world was characterized by her dedication to helping the most vulnerable and defining the role of a First Lady by setting a high standard for future generations to follow.

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