8 Lessons of Leadership

1. 8 Lessons of Leadership Prof.Dr.Aung Tun Thet Based on Richard Stengel, “Mandela: His 8 Lessons of Leadership”, Time Magazine, p.18-24

2. No. 1 Courage is not the absence of fear – it’s inspiring others to move beyondit

3. Leaders • Cannot let people know that you are afraid • Put up a front • Pretend, and through the act of appearing fearless, inspire others • Model for others • Triumph over own fears

4. No. 2 Lead from the front – but don’t leave your base behind

5. Leaders • Take their support base with them • Once they arrive at the beachhead, allow people to move on • Not a “bubble gum” leader – chew it now and throw it away

6. Negotiation • About tactics, not principles • Principles are immutable, but anything to get to the goal is a tactic

7. Leaders • Historical persons • Have posterity in mind: “How will they view what we have done?” • Take a long view • Always play for the long run

8. No. 3 Lead from the back – and let others believe they are in front

9. Leaders • Don’t tell people what to do but form consensus • Listen first, then summarize everyone’s points of view and unfurled own thoughts, subtly steering the decision in the direction wanted, without imposing • “The trick of leadership is allowing yourself to be led too.” • Persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea

10. No. 4 Know your “enemy”

11. Leaders • Learn to understand the language – the world view – of their adversaries • Try to understand the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses • Even the worst and crudest can be negotiated with

12. No. 5 Keep your friends close – and your rivals even closer

13. Leaders • Use charm to even greater effect on rivals than on allies • Deal with those they didn’t trust by neutralizing them with charm • Embracing rivals is a way of controlling them – more dangerous on their own than within own circle of influence • Cherished loyalty but not obsessed by it • Understand “People act in their own self interest” - simply a fact of human nature, not a flaw or a defect

14. No. 6 Appearances matter – and remember to smile

15. Leaders • Understand the historical correlation between leadership and physicality • Appearances can advance their cause • Appreciate that symbols matter as much as substance • Smile – dazzling, beatific, all-inclusive

16. No. 7 Nothing is black or white

17. Leaders • Understand • Life is never either/or • Decisions complex, and there are always competing factors • Looking for simple explanations is the bias of human brain, but does not correspond to reality • Nothing is ever as straightforward as it appears

18. Leaders • Comfortable with contradictions • Pragmatist, seeing the world as infinitely nuanced • Work out – “What is the end that I seek, and what is the most practical way to get there?

19. No. 8 Quitting is leading too

20. Leaders • Accept defeat with humility, don’t sulk • Knowing how to abandon a failed idea, task or relationship the most difficult decision • “Set the course, but not steer the ship”