Leadership History Lesson - George Westinghouse
Imagine you’re living in the late 1800s, and the world is buzzing, quite literally, with the possibilities of electricity. But there’s one very big problem. No one can agree on how to deliver this life-changing new technology.
George Westinghouse, an industrialist and engineer, found himself right in the middle of one of the most heated business rivalries of all time...the "Current Wars."
The Current Wars consisted of two camps. On one side, Thomas Edison was advocating for direct current (DC). On the other side was Westinghouse, betting everything on alternating current (AC). Edison’s DC was safer for short distances but struggled to travel long distances without losing power. Westinghouse’s AC, on the other hand, could be transmitted much farther and more efficiently, but it had a reputation for being dangerous, thanks in part to Edison’s not-so-subtle smear campaigns (a story for another time).
Instead of fighting fire with fire, Westinghouse did something different. He leaned on his team, which included Nikola Tesla, to focus on making AC safer and more viable. Westinghouse didn’t need to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, he brought the right people into the same room. He listened to Tesla and other team members, trusted their expertise, and invested in making AC better and safer rather than trying to discredit Edison.
The turning point came at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Westinghouse and his team lit up the fairgrounds with AC power, impressing the crowds and proving it could safely and effectively illuminate cities. Shortly after, Westinghouse’s AC system was chosen to power the Niagara Falls hydroelectric project, cementing its place in history.
Westinghouse’s story is a reminder that great leaders don't have all the answers, and don't believe they need to have all of the answers. It takes an enviable combination of confidence and humility to stop trying to be the smartest person in the room.
Surround yourself with talent, trust their insights, and let the results speak for themselves.
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