Lead Like a Legend: Timeless Lessons for Modern Leaders

Every organization, industry or otherwise, operates in an environment that is unpredictable and changes rapidly. This is what makes the importance of leadership even more pronounced today than it was before. But the tenets of effective leadership and great leaders remain quite cohesive through the ages. The principles and the strategies of the great leaders, many of whom lived through centuries ago, as well as from the modern period, are still useful today and influence leaders in the most practical and tangible ways. There is always some difference in leadership style from one region to the other; from one industry or sector to the other, the common core values of a great leader are the same everywhere. To lead like a legend, one has to possess crystal clear vision as One has integrity, great empathy for subordinates and enough resilience.

An exceptional leader is very common to possess a commendable intuition, coupled with an effective strategy. Leaders are always able to devise a new plan for the future. Great leaders are able to translate their vision effectively, helping and encouraging people to follow a similar path toward that goal. This vision encompasses more than just earning profit as a business; it talks about making something of substance that stands the test of time. Through adherence to this style of leadership, the loyalty of the followers to the leader and to the mission is strong due to the fact that the leader provides vision and not just direction. In the modern world where the people’s focus is looking for a job that resonates with their conscience, the narratives that leaders come up with becomes extremely crucial.

Integrity is another one of those leadership qualities which are in great demand. Legendary leaders are these who possess honesty, transparency and responsibility as part of their character. They do what is right rather than what is easy or convenient. They speak as they act and they find it necessary to live up to the strictest standards of ethics. Integrity earns trust and it is a good foundation for leadership. Leaders who act with integrity have the respect and the trust of their teams. Respect is not freely offered; it is won by deeds that are in accordance with the leader’s values and morals, which have been expressed time after time. Leaders who lack integrity may achieve success for a while, but their leadership will depend on trust which will not be there.

Getting trusted in vision and integrity, empathy remains as one of the key qualities of great leaders. Empathy, as one of the most essential ingredients in the process helps to form a sound and enthusiastic working team. They see that authority is not power but relationships; rather than barking orders, they solicit opinions. It is my distinct pleasure to hear them kindly say, “I have time to hear my staff.” They make sure their subordinates’ personal lives come first and encourage them professionally afterwards. The moment a leader shows empathy, such leaders themselves create a workplace culture of honor and respect in which every employee is appreciated. And these factors yield a positive increase in morale, higher degree of involvement, and in the end, all aspects translate into better productivity. There are probably some managers in today’s world who have not gotten a ‘working documents’ of such letters. For them such letters may seem sarcastic but the truths are often bitter. Other managers who ignore such a letter are reducing the belt level of their teams and losing the trust essential for any success.

A third important insight provided by legendary leaders is that of resilience. When the going gets tough, great leaders are able to keep their heads cool, and adapt to the new situation while moving forward. Resilience is more than just growing from failure experiences, it includes understanding the failure, regaining correct focus and changing actionable tactics to reach the end goal. Staying composed and helping others out of tough spots tend to be some of the most distinguishing characteristics of great leaders. Resilience has become ever more crucial for today’s executives, as they have to deal with constant changes and certain factors that are beyond their control, all in the fast paced and dynamic corporate world. The most effective leaders are those who are able to remain stable during challenging times, provide hope to the workforce and lead by their actions.

These timeless lessons, while essential for any type of leadership, provide a starting point for great leadership in the past as well as in the present and in the future. Another point which I think is crucial is that leaders need to be flexible as well. As the world becomes more and more international and interdependent, leaders need to be ready to embrace concepts that are not common in their society. It is well known that some leaders excelled beyond their peers by strengthening their will not only during controversy such as wars but through political and economic struggles as well. Leaders today likewise, have to be strategy and technology conscious in their decision making. In the contemporary corporate environment, being able to transform, acquire new tools, and adapt to new market necessities is a prerequisite for achievement.

Furthermore, legendary leaders comprehend the idea of being part of the ‘leading process’. They do not shout to others: ‘Look, you better do this or that’, but they perform actions and show that in practice. From getting their hands dirty working on the ground with their people, or making sacrifices for the betterment of the organization rather than for self satisfaction, inspiring leaders act. Because of such genuineness, they earn admiration and respect in bountiful quantities from their subordinates. When their leaders exemplify these qualities, such as, integrity, empathy, and resilience it is highly likely followers would behave the same.

Finally, legendary leaders comprehend that leadership is not a one man job. They gather groups of people with exceptional skills and diversity and allow others to take the responsibility for the work. Great leaders appreciate that they are limited in capacity to assist in every task and that achieving their goals is a group work. They foster a workplace environment where every member of the team can communicate their ideas, take risks and help to achieve the goals of the company. Due to the significance of building an inclusive society which in turn inspires collaboration helps the legendary leaders to optimize the potential of their teams ensuring future success.

This is particularly true at present when it does seem as though leadership is often seen as a purely business transactional relationship devoid of human factors, the legacy of the legendary leaders serves as an important reminder of how much can be achieved when one leads with principles at the core of their leadership. Modern leaders who adopt vision, integrity, empathy, resilience, adaptability, collaboration among a host of other important elements are able to construct not only thriving but also enduring organizations. Leading like a legend has a larger purpose of making positive impact on people, organizations and communities for a long time rather than short term objectives. As we find ourselves in a more complicated world, the principles and teachings of legendary leaders will still be there, waiting to be utilized by those who wish to be impactful leaders.