Today we
celebrate and recognize the life and achievement of Martin Luther King Jr. MLK
as they say was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the
African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the
advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his
Christian beliefs.
In times of
challenge and controversy, it is the leaders in our lives that we look to for
guidance. It is the voices that motivate and inspire us that we turn to for
help. And during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, there was one particularly
important man whom people and activists alike aspired to. A man whose
determination and vision made him one of the greatest leaders and orators in
American history.
In honor of
Martin Luther King, Jr. today, here are four leadership lessons we can learn
from MLK.
1. Know Your
Cause.
One of the most
important lessons to be learned from Dr. King is to always know the why behind
what you’re doing. Part of what made the “I Have a Dream” speech so
inspirational was that it painted a picture of what Dr. King saw for the
future. Everything he was doing was in the name of achieving that vision.
2.
Articulate a Powerful Vision.
Leaders
communicate a concrete vision of the future with a clear call to action to
inspire others to get there. People want to follow someone who they know is
going somewhere. People do not follow leaders who don't care about their
values, their wants and needs, or the hopes and aspirations of those in the
organization.
3. Embrace
Fear.
A good leader
doesn’t have to be fearless – they only have to be willing to face their fear.
Journalist Robert Ellis Smith revealed that King often felt scared or worried
before a speech that he would be misunderstood or met with violent protests,
but he always carried on. He told Smith, “If you are not anxious, you are not
engaged.”
4. Get
People Involved.
Making a
difference is a team effort. Without the communities and audiences he inspired,
Dr. King’s words would never have had the impact they did. He did more than
just be heard – he asked people to join him. People want to be a part of
something special and he inspired them to be involved in something bigger than
themselves.
5. Challenge
the Status Quo
Excellent
leaders simply are not passive; they are active. They will challenge the status
quo and not settle for business as usual. When there's a major challenge facing
your organization, you must step forward to initiate new methods of getting
things done to solve problems and ignite innovation.
6. Demonstrate Faith in People
Wholeheartedly
showing someone you believe in him is the simplest, most powerful thing you can
do to bring out his best. Leaders have faith in not only in themselves but
others. The authentic leader readily acknowledges the commitment and hard work
of their followers. When times are tough, people need to know that their work
matters. An excellent leader listens to the ideas of the followers and
responds.
7.
Persevere.
Achieving Dr.
King’s dream was not an instant success. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement,
King faced countless setbacks and moments of failure. He was arrested over 20
times, his house was bombed and set aflame, and he was even stabbed. But King
never let these obstacles stand in his way. He had a dream and he was
determined to see it through.
Great leaders
set out to achieve what others deem impossible. Dr. King worked toward a
better, freer and more equal world, in part because he could imagine it. The
struggle for racial, gender, and other forms of equality is not over, but to
continue down this path, we must believe there is a destination.
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