4. Situational models of leadership posit that different situations call for different types of leaders. The experiences of Winston Churchill provide an interesting example of this idea. Although Churchill is usually ranked among the greatest leaders of modern times, it is sometimes forgotten that his leadership skills were not always valued. Before World War II, Churchill and his opinions were marginalized and rejected by his colleagues. With the start of the war, his oratorical skills and decisiveness were exploited to great effect and he was regarded as a heroic leader. Then, in 1945, not long after the war ended, Churchill and his party were defeated because he was not considered to be the best choice to lead Britain during peacetime.69 The different reactions to Churchill’s leadership style illustrate that leadership must be matched to a specific set of circumstances; it is not a phenomenon that exists independent of its social context. Why do you think that preferred styles of leadership vary over time and circumstance?