In the play, an aristocratic family and its butler, Crichton, are shipwrecked. Because of his practical knowledge and skills, Crichton quickly assumes the role with the family and helps it survive. After being rescued, the aristocratic head of the family takes credit for Crichton’s ability to protect and feed the family.
The play’s message centers on the theme that different settings allow different skills to come to the forefront, and in the right setting, even skills thought to be unimportant suddenly become vital.
This inner truth about leadership and human nature made the play a hit. Keeping that truth in mind as you lead others could help cultivate your leadership skills and help you match future leaders to the tasks they can excel in.