Transformative Leadership And Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: How We Must Lead At Work

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of only two figures in American history to earn a federal holiday in their honor. The others were President George Washington and Christopher Columbus. What is the common denominator amongst their great legacies? What did they do that was so remarkable? Well, it's more than what they had done. Mere action cannot transform a nation. The more relevant question: what did these leaders have to become? 

To influence America, change the hearts of millions, and lead a nation, you must become a person worth following. Anyone can fill their calendar with volunteer work, committees, and extracurriculars. But committing to a lifestyle, sacrificing continuously, and making changes that transform your character makes all the difference. Let's dive deep into three leadership characteristics Dr. King demonstrates throughout his legacy. And more specifically, how today's managers, directors, and executives can pull from these values to find more confidence, fulfillment, and honor in their leadership style.

 Dr. King shows that exceptional leaders:

• Are Comfortable With Conflict
• Create Hunger In Their Team
• Always Maintain Dignity

Leaders Become Comfortable With Conflict

Leaders must become comfortable with conflict. Arthur Brooks offers in Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America From the Culture of Contempt,

"Authoritative leaders are not peacemakers. They aren't conflict-averse. They just understand how to manage conflict in a way that is not destructive" (Brooks, 79) 

King was broadly unpopular over much of his career. And after accepting a more prominent activism role, he received several threats to his home. 

If his life's mission was popularity and global adoration, he most certainly picked the wrong career. But Dr. King was not driven by fame. It's reported that he never desired a major platform and even resisted accepting when black civic activists drafted him to be the spokesperson for the bus boycott. But, he felt a personal conviction to lead in this way. 

Leaders Create Hungry In Their Team

King saw a vision for America that most people did not. He birthed a dream in others that most Americans didn't even know was inside of them. In the corporate world, our human resources provide a lot of company training to increase efficiency, reduce turnover and instill a greater commitment to the company vision. Especially for millennials and Gen Z employees, who value flexibility, professional development, and a strong sense of purpose in their vocation. Trainings are some departments' way of saying "you matter."  

That is what Dr. King managed to do with his influence. He made other people feel that their work mattered. A leader shows you how important you are to the cause. And when individual contributors believe their contributions count, they work with pride, honor, and dignity. What can you do at work this quarter to remind your team that their contributions matter?

Leaders Have Dignity

Drive through a middle to an upper-class neighborhood in the suburbs. You'll likely see freshly cut lawns, clean streets, and well-kept houses. Drive through a low-income area of town, and you will notice a difference. Several competing reasons exist, such as neighborhood fees, access, affordability, and economic downturns. 

But the most relevant reason is a sense of ownership or dignity. Among humanity (not just low-income individuals), there's a temptation to let our standards fall when what we own lacks high value, prestige, or importance. A false perception that says I'll start doing "blank" once I obtain "blank." 

Dr. King taught that "all labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."

Whether living in a studio apartment with no heating, or a four-bedroom house in a neighborhood with HOA fees, true leaders honor what's theirs. Leaders maintain their dignity, whether they have a little or a lot. 

As Dr. King has demonstrated through his 39 years on this earth, leaders are assigned, and exceptional leaders are made. And they are not made from completing a certain amount of actions but from consistent small decisions that transform the character and overall identity. Take this week to reflect on Dr. King's leadership legacy and how you can synergize those values into your initiatives at work.

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