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(1) No Personal Agendas
To paraphrase Plato, “Only those who do not seek power are qualified to hold it.” People chose Martin as a leader because he had no known agenda, he displayed a high rate of energy, and he could communicate effectively.
(2) Know Yourself & Stay True to Your Convictions
Martin preached personal responsibility, professional pride, and being the best that a person could be no matter what the situation. At the dawn of the civil rights era, he explained, “I came to see for the first time that the Christian doctrine of love, operating through Gandhi’s method of nonviolence, is one of the most potent weapons available to an oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.” He worked to persuade others through love, patience, and understanding…trying to bring about a change of heart. Martin also subjected himself to endless self-analysis, so he was certain that he fulfilled the true meaning of his work, maintained his sense of purpose, held fast to his ideals, and guided people in the right direction.
(3) Listen First
When leaders listen first, then speak, they are engendering trust in those who would follow. Martin demonstrated that, and he gained at least four major benefits: (1) built trust; (2) better understood people’s aspirations and expectations; (3) learned; and (4) fostered connection and rapport with others.
(4) Be a Lifelong Learner
Martin studied constantly, even after his formal schooling ended. He made good use of downtime, and he tried to go somewhere so he could think about things. Donald Phillips points out that this desire for lifelong learning is common to many creative leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr.—and fosters a strong tendency to listen first to others!
(5) Know Your People
Martin cared about people and had a genuine interest in everyone he met. But more than that, circulating among the people was an integral part of his leadership style. Speaking to regular folks every day kept him in touch with what was really going on. It also helped him learn how people felt; about their current situation; what their hopes and aspirations were. For a leader, achieving results is directly proportional to a leader’s willingness and ability to interact with people.
(6) Encourage Creativity & Innovation
Initiative, creativity, and innovative thinking were a major part of Martin Luther King’s leadership strategy. Why? Because Martin was leading a social revolution—one where a great majority was entrenched and recalcitrant; and one where the minority was essentially without significant economic and political power. He even wrote once, “Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, ‘Wait.’” But he pressed on, taking innovative approaches. These creative endeavors brought people together, unifying them in a common mission.
(7) Involve People in Leading Change
Change is what leadership is all about. Martin King understood that it is a fundamental human tendency for people to resist nearly any form of change if they have not been prepared in advance for the transformation. So, the first step in the change process is raising awareness. The second step is to involve others in the planning process. People want to be included in decisions that affect their future. This is not a matter of personal power but one of self-worth.
(8) Build Coalitions
In the Civil Rights movement, Martin recognized that 10% of the population cannot by tensions alone induce 90% to change a way of life. He explained, “We aren’t going to be free anywhere in the U.S. until there is committed empathy on the part of the white (majority).” He recognized that “there exists a substantial group of white Americans who cherish democratic principles above privilege (who) are just as determined to see us free as we are to be free ourselves.” In a 1959 interview, Martin said, “This is why I always have in the past and will in the future insist that my staff be interracial. By insisting on racial openness in our organizations, we are setting a pattern for the racially integrated society toward which we work.” Interestingly, one of the most significant facts of the historic March on Washington was that one quarter of the people gathered together were white—marking their first large-scale participation in the civil rights movement.
(9) Compromise to Move Forward
Martin constantly sought negotiation in order to both achieve progress and preserve harmony. He recognized that you can’t have everything you want right now. But you can get something right now if you compromise during the negotiation process. If you don’t compromise, however, you get nothing. Compromise and negotiation are both essential elements to the leadership process because they create attainment of goals and allow for the realization of substantial achievement. While compromises are almost never popular, the best leaders know that negotiation, by its very definition, demands compromise on both sides.
(10) Handle Criticism Well
Martin Luther King, Jr. modeled six ways to handle criticism:
- Turn the other cheek: Martin largely ignored the daily drumbeat of personal attacks
- Remember the people you represent and what you’re fighting for: Martin was acutely aware that people expected him to be strong and courageous
- Have faith: At one point, Martin prayed, “Dear Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. But…I’m afraid.” Then, he heard an inner voice, “Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And, lo, I will be with you, even unto the end of the world.” Afterward, Martin said to himself, “I can stand up without fear. I can face anything.”
- Keep your sense of humor
- Turn a negative into a positive: Clearly, Martin had the capacity to view each setback as an opportunity to learn something new
- Fight back when you must: “Freedom is never free,” Martin wrote. “It is always purchased with the high price of sacrifice and suffering.”
What do you want your leadership legacy to be? Here’s what Martin Luther King, Jr. said of his: “I’d like somebody to mention that Martin Luther King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others…tried to love somebody…tried to feed the hungry…to clothe those who were naked…to visit those who were in prison…tried to love and serve humanity.” Well said and well lived…