Great leadership is a combination of one’s skills, characteristics, and principles. In other words, it has more to do with who you are and the influences in your life. If you want to be a leader, but think you lack the qualities, it’s not too late. Leadership can be learned.
Let’s look at some of the greatest leaders of all time and what we can learn from them.
Nelson Mandela
Rolihlahla Mandela, more famously known by his Christian name Nelson Mandela, lived in a time where black people were stripped of their basic rights. They were not allowed to mingle with white people, have access to the same quality of education, vote, and more.
Among those who sought change was Mandela. He had genuine compassion for the oppressed and fought for equal rights. This eventually led him to become South Africa’s first Black president.
Once president, he continued to exceed people’s expectations of him. He did not use his power to be vengeful towards his oppressors. Instead, he promoted forgiveness, respect, and love.
This cultivated trust and loyalty between him and his people. It paved the way to a more united South Africa, inspiring the rest of the world to seek the same for their country. As he once said, “You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”
“You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”
If there is one thing we can learn from this great man of South Africa, it’s the power of forgiveness.
Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, also known as Queen Elizabeth II, is the queen of the United Kingdom. She is also one of the world’s longest-reigning monarchs.
Although a great leader, Queen Elizabeth II had a rough start. She became queen at the age of 25 after the untimely death of her father, King George VI. In the midst of shock and grief, she had no choice but to ascend to the throne.
She ascended quite too soon, yet she exceeded everyone’s expectations. She accepted her responsibilities with grace, improved herself in any way that she could, and always learned from her mistakes.
Today, she remains dedicated to her work despite her age. She always shows up at public events, works with hundreds of charities and organizations, and remains a source of wisdom to many.
To echo the words of the queen herself, “The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually, your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.”
“The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually, your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.”
Queen Elizabeth’s life story proves that our circumstances do not dictate our future. It is shaped by our character, determination, and outlook in life.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
You have probably heard of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. In it, he expressed his dream of justice and equality among people. He dreamed of a united America.
Back then, racial injustice was the norm. Interracial marriages were not allowed. Black Americans could not share public facilities with white Americans. They were also restricted to low-paying jobs.
And these were just a few of the many injustices endured by Black Americans.
To put an end to this, Dr. King fought for reformation. He became the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. It was a special movement because it promoted social transformation in a nonviolent approach.
Even when opponents used violence against him and his followers, he stood by his principles. After all, the movement was for a noble cause. It made sense to achieve it in a noble way.
Unfortunately, he was assassinated before he witnessed the results of his advocacy. But Dr. King was able to leave an impact on the world. This paved the way for the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Indeed, Dr. King proved everyone that kindness always wins.
In the words of Dr. King, “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.”
“Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.”
Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, was a Catholic nun. She spent her entire life serving the helpless, the poor, and the sick. In fact, she has been awarded a few times and given the highest civilian honor for her humanitarian work.
Her mission in life was to help the poorest of the poor. For others, it’s a daunting task that calls for big goals. Saint Teresa, however, did it by helping one person at a time.
In doing so, Saint Teresa became the perfect example of a leader. A servant-leader. She taught us that we need to serve our people to lead effectively.
By serving our people, we are enriching their lives. In return, it empowers them to lead others as well through service. As Saint Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a political and spiritual leader. He was dubbed as the Father of the Nation after freeing India from the British rule.
Having experienced discrimination himself, he decided to create a movement. This movement aimed to improve the situation of the marginalized, women and their rights, and the caste system. And he achieved it through the principle of Satyagraha.
Satyagraha is the practice of nonviolent civil resistance or passive resistance. Gandhi believed that violence is not necessary when you’re fighting for what is right. As long as you stand with the truth, you will triumph.
He said, “When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it – always.”
This has been proven true not only by Gandhi but by other leaders who looked up to him like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Truly, Gandhi was one of the greatest leaders witnessed by the world.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it – always.”
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was a self-taught lawyer and the 16th president of the United States. He created controversy for being opposed to slavery. In fact, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of people held as slaves in rebellious states.
Aside from his compassion towards the oppressed, he embodied the qualities of a great leader. One of them was humility. Abraham Lincoln surrounded himself with colleagues whom he thought were competent, even if they were his rivals.
For instance, Salmon Chase has always been critical of Lincoln in front of everyone. Wanting the seat of presidency himself, it was Chase’s way to get back at Lincoln for winning the elections over him. However, Lincoln still appointed him as Secretary of the Treasury.
Another example would be Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s former colleague during his years as a lawyer. Stanton never liked Lincoln. He even insulted the latter and called him a “long-armed ape”. However, Lincoln thought Stanton was the best replacement for the Secretary of War.
Lincoln displayed a great sense of humility as a leader. As long as these people did their jobs well, he was pleased. He taught us that as leaders, we must learn to set our own ego aside for the common good.
Lincoln couldn’t have said it better himself as he spoke about his colleagues, “I had looked the party over and concluded that these were the very strongest men. Then I had no right to deprive the country of their service.”
“I had looked the party over and concluded that these were the very strongest men. Then I had no right to deprive the country of their service.”
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein is probably the most famous scientist belonging to the 20th century. He played a huge role in helping us understand the world through science.
One of his works includes the concept of gravity, more famously known as the Theory of Relativity or E=mc2. He is often seen as a great discoverer for his works, which won him honors and awards.
But Einstein was also a great leader. Not only did he pave the way for more discoveries, but he also inspired everyone with his character.
One leadership trait he possessed was his willingness to learn. He was childlike: he had a curious mind and a great imagination for everything. He always asked questions and managed to look at old problems from a new perspective.
This was evident in a letter he penned to a friend and colleague. In it, he described himself as ignorant. He talked about a physics problem he couldn’t understand.
He goes on to say, “the only profitable approach is if you explain the idea to me as if to a young student who knows as yet absolutely nothing.”
Albert Einstein was a genius, yet he never stopped learning. He taught us that embracing our own ignorance and staying curious helps us learn effectively. He once said, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” By doing so, we are able to teach and lead people effectively, too.
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”
George Washington
George Washington was a Founding Father of the United States. He became the first president and is arguably one of the best leaders the world has witnessed.
Even before his presidency, he proved to be an exemplary leader. He was disciplined and constantly worked on himself. For instance, he read books on military tactics to prepare better for the war. As a result, he led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War.
He also practiced integrity and expected the same from his followers. He proved this when he retreated with his soldiers to Valley Forge. It was winter, they had lost major battles, they were miserable, and they were hungry.
Every day, his men were either quitting or dying one by one. Washington grew desperate and asked for support from Congress. However, they urged him and his men to steal food from the farmers instead.
He refused and decided to stick to his morals. He even threatened to hang anyone he caught stealing food. It angered Congress, but he earned even more respect from his men.
This inspired his soldiers to work harder, which led to their victory against the best military in the world.
He once said, “I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”
Washington was truly a man of great character. And it earned him loyalty and respect from people all over the world.
“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”
Marie Curie
Marie Curie was another great leader in the field of science. She was the founder of the science of radioactivity. Her efforts led to the discovery of the radioactive elements polonium and radium, with radium being an effective treatment for incurable cancers then.
Despite her brilliance and successes, Curie experienced gender discrimination. She, along with other women, was looked down upon and offered limited opportunities at work. However, it was Curie’s passion for science that would eventually open up more opportunities for women.
Her passion made her a woman of firsts. She was the first woman to teach at Sorbonne University in Paris, the first woman to earn a doctorate degree in Europe, and the first woman and person to ever win the Nobel Prize–and win it twice.
Curie also had a strong compassion for the sick. She raised funds to help laboratories develop treatments for cancer. She helped ambulances become equipped with x-ray tools during World War I.
She even risked her own health from too much exposure to radioactive materials. But it didn’t stop her from making a difference in the world.
Certainly, Curie was the definition of a great leader. She proved that nothing is impossible as long as you put your heart into what you do. She taught us that determination always trumps adversity.
In the words of Marie Curie, “First principle: never to let one’s self be beaten down by persons or by events.”
“First principle: never to let one’s self be beaten down by persons or by events.”
Conclusion
There you have it. These trailblazers came from different backgrounds and created different stories. But a closer look at their lives teaches us that being perfect isn’t a prerequisite to becoming a great leader. It’s our relentless zeal to be one.
