Last year I shared a blog with a few leadership lessons I learned from Donald T. Phillips’ book Martin Luther King Jr. On Leadership. I am doing the same again this year and sharing a few more principles he highlighted on how to lead.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a man of vision who peacefully championed change in a very turbulent time. This is what leaders often must do. Phillips put it this way:
“[H]e was not only an optimistic individual (as great leaders are), he was also persistent, determined, and had an eye focused on the future. Even more important. . . . Martin was a lifelong continuous learner.”
In this one statement I see four traits we can all develop to increase our leadership effectiveness.
Optimistic
In their fight against the oppression of the day specifically at one point in Albany “5 percent of the Negro population” went to jail. Instead of being angry, King’s optimism shone through. He said how extraordinary the response was that five percent would willingly go to jail for a just cause. As leaders we must be realistic and accept the difficulties that come, but what is the positive in the situation?
During a pandemic many may paint a bleak picture, but the optimistic people have seen opportunities and capitalized on them. They provide new services, create new businesses, form new service organizations and meet needs that were not previously present. King saw the willingness of people to go to jail for a just cause as positive momentum in the movement.
Persistent
I shared in one of my weekly videos an example of my son’s persistence in pursuing something he really wanted. I’ve heard leadership expert John Maxwell say “everything worth having is uphill.” I find this is true. Whether it be a personal or professional goal there will be an uphill climb to reach it and leaders must have the determination to persist.
King must have realized this as he faced resistance to the idea of peacefully fighting for civil rights. Whether it was within or outside of public view King persistently championed the cause as all leaders must do.
Vision
What keeps one fighting and pressing forward amidst such adversity? Keeping an eye focused on the future. King had a dream of what the world would be like one day and that dream must have remained constantly at the forefront of his mind. If you are in a position of leadership or are championing a cause this focus on the future must remain. Leaders who lose this focus quit because the climb becomes unbearable.
Lifelong Learner
“Not all readers can be leaders. But all leaders must be readers.”
Harry Truman
What makes the above statement and Phillip’s statement about King’s lifelong learning being more important so true? An effective leader sees situations from multiple perspectives in order to make the best decision for all. This requires a learner’s mindset. Listening to multiple voices and reading multiple sources can inform a leader so he or she has more insight before making decisions.
Maybe you have heard the statement “experience is the best teacher.” Experience teaches, but only when we evaluate and learn from it. King continually sought to learn from both successes and failures to grow and move himself and the cause forward.
These are only a few lessons learned from this legendary leader. How are you doing in these areas? Is there one of these areas you need to intentionally grow in? Want an objective evaluation of your team and leadership? Contact me to discuss a facilitation of The Leadership Game to open communication and grow your team and leaders in your organization. Lead Well.
© 2021 Wheeler Coaching, All Rights Reserved
