Dr Martin Luther King Jr on Leadership

As a tribute to the great leadership of Dr Martin Luther King Jr., here are some of his words to reflect on regarding leadership.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

"People are often led to causes and often become committed to great ideas through persons who personify those ideas. They have to find the embodiment of the idea in flesh and blood in order to commit themselves to it."

"The people are looking to me for leadership - and if I stand before them without strength and courage, they too will falter."

COMMITTED/COMPELLED

"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live." 

      

CONFIDENCE

"I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!"

COMPOSURE

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

CHARACTER

"The time is always right to do what is right."

"There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor political nor popular, but he must do it because his conscience tells him it is right."

VOCAL LEADERSHIP

"I will not be intimidated, I will not be harassed. I will not be silent, and I will be heard."

SERVANT-LEADERSHIP

"A man all wrapped up in himself is a mighty small package."

CONFIDENCE-BUILDER

"We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop... I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land."

RE-FOCUSER

"The first thing we must do here tonight is to decide we are not going to become panicky. That we are going to be calm, and we are going to continue to stand up for what is right. Fear not, we've come too far to turn back... we are not afraid and we shall overcome."

TEAM-BUILDER

"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a moulder of consensus."

ENFORCER

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"We are not asking, we are demanding the ballot... "

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind."

RECOMMENDED READING

For more information on Dr. King and his powerful leadership, read the following:

Martin Luther King, Jr., on Leadership: Inspiration and Wisdom for Challenging Times by Donald T. Phillips

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. edited by Clayborne Carson

King: The Photobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Charles Johnson and Bob Adelman 

Dr Martin Luther King Jr on Leadership

Having a Positive Influence

A person has a positive influence (and thereby exhibits Positive Leadership™) in a specific situation when they rigorously answer four questions:

1. What result do I want to create?
2. What would my story be if I were living up to the values I expect of others?
3. How do others feel about this situation?
4. What strategies could I use to accomplish my purpose for this situation?

There are many reasons why answering these questions causes a person to exhibit Positive Leadership™. 

However, a key reason is that when people answer these questions, they create and pursue a purpose that is broadly inclusive of different people’s needs and desires, and they are open to learning how to accomplish that purpose as they go along. 

Having a Positive Influence