“Semper eadem” was the motto of the first Queen Elizabeth, it means “always the same”. I only know this because when she granted my school – Ipswich School – a charter the use of her motto and coat of arms came with it.
Moving forward 456 years “semper eadem” strikes me as appropriate for the second Queen Elizabeth. For 70 years things have felt “always the same”.
It is rare for such constancy and consistency to exist. To me, applied correctly, they are the traits of good leadership.
It is not in thoughts and deeds that constancy and consistency should prevail but in values. Thoughts and deeds are always temporary, values never should be. Thoughts are not values and values are not thoughts – but they are often confused with each other.
Values are too often missing or ephemeral in business, politics and life. Thoughts and deeds are too often stuck and irrelevant.
We should acknowledge that we are all leaders. We lead teams, groups, departments, factories, unions, businesses, charities, organisations and families.
What are our values? How flexible and changeable in thought and deed are we prepared to be to live up to them?
The thinking and actions that got us to where we are, however good that place is, are not those that will keep us progressing. Our values will though.
As leaders we would do well to follow the example we have been set these last 70 years.
For me that is her legacy.