Leadership lessons from Dr. King

As clearly one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen, Martin Luther King urged us to think about the world as something greater than ourselves, that our lives really didn’t start until we were devoted to the betterment of others.

Everyone has a role to play in changing our world to be more just and fair, he taught. And through his powerful words and purposeful action, millions of Americans came together in the 1960s to achieve profound progress on civil rights, to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, as he eloquently framed it.

When I read about or think about Dr. King’s legacy as a transformative leader, certain attributes stand out to me that made him so remarkable.

Servant leader

Servant leaders are people who listen to others, always looking to include everyone in the room. They seek diverse opinions, and they bring that feedback into the process of working on solutions.

They want to credit others when success happens, and they step up and take responsibility when things go off the rails. Dr. King was the quintessential servant leader, constantly challenging us with statements like this: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”

Action and role modeling

Dr. King put in the work. He led his followers by example, rolling up his sleeves and getting after the change he felt passionately about and that he knew required focus, discipline, and persistence. Traveling around the country to deliver powerful speeches and to engage with communities, MLK reportedly journeyed 6 million miles in a life that was tragically cut short at age 39.

He said: “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

Inclusion

Dr. King believed that everyone could make an impact. It didn’t matter where you were born, your background, your education, your job title, or the money in your bank account. This quote summarizes his inclusive attitude:

“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

Empathy

Experiencing the human suffering in his community, MLK was driven to overcome what seemed like impossible odds in the name of social justice. He worked with people to deeply understand divisive issues, and to use peaceful methods to enact change.

Dr. King’s demonstrated compassion in nearly everything he did, encouraging his followers with statements like this: “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

Vision

Dr. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. in front of 250,000 people participating in the March on Washington. It was August 28, 1963, the 100-year anniversary of Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation. The speech couldn’t be more relevant today.

On that summer day, he passionately spoke about his vision for the future.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ … I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”

Each of us should aspire to the leadership qualities of Dr. King.