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 beyond it

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. Lead from the front – but don’t leave your base behind
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. Lead from the back – and let others believe they are in front
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. Keep your friends close – and your rivals even closer
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. Appearances matter – and remember to smile
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. 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. Quitting is leading too
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”