Lead Like Attila the Hun

The marauding King who brought might Rome to its knees

The Huns were a nomadic tribes who migrated from Volga to Europe around 370AD and were never one people. Infighting was very common, and Attila brought them all to unite and come under one banner. This probably is the only reason the Huns ever challenged the might of Rome.

Attila ( /ˈætɨlə/ or /əˈtɪlə/; ?–453), more frequently referred to as Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in 453.

He was leader of the Hunnic Empire, which stretched from the Ural River to the Rhine River and from the Danube River to the Baltic Sea. During his reign he was one of the most feared enemies of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires.

He crossed the Danube twice and plundered the Balkans, but was unable to take Constantinople. He also attempted to conquer Roman Gaul (modern France), crossing the Rhine in 451 and marching as far as Aurelianum (Orléans) before being defeated at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains.

Subsequently he invaded Italy, devastating the northern provinces, but was unable to take Rome. He planned for further campaigns against the Romans but died in 453.

(copied from Wikipedia - click here to read more)

Attila : the man behind the Legend

Details about Attila the Hun vary significantly. Watch the following documentaries to gain a deeper insight to his life and times.

• Attila - The Scourge of God
• Ancients behaving badly - Attila the Hun

An axe to grind

Like many hugely successful conquerors Attila too was foretold he would be a great king. His childhood was filled with hardships . Attila rose to power with grit and determination : and with an Axe to grind : specially with the Western World whom he considered insults to their freedom and way of life.

The strongest steel comes from the harshest fires

Attila was groomed by his circumstances. His childhood must have been exceedingly tough.

The trials he had to go through made him tougher - both physically and emotionally, enabling him to be the leader he became in his prime. It is important to understand that Leaders are the result of circumstance being made into an opportunity by a relentless will - which Attiila certainly was.

Equality

The Huns were made up of many different ethnic groups and tribes. Anyone could literally become a Hun provided they fought with them, and accepted their Leadership. As such, the Huns were able to bring together various talents and strengths enriching their tribes and strengthening their bloodlines. It also meant they could increase in numbers without having to rely solely on offspring. This openness to diversity also made them stronger in battle - as only the strongest chose to be Huns : and as long as people accepted the Hun way of life, they could be part of this big family.

The ‘Bigger Picture’

From a very early age Attila understood that it was pointless to resort to infighting which only weakened the overall strength the Huns had. This ability to see beyond the petty prejudices most chieftains subscribed to enabled Attila to have a far bigger Vision than any of his contemporaries or predecessors. This also enabled Attila to have a much bigger rallying call for his people !

Learning from the enemy

Attila spent many years in the Roman Courts : as a hostage (which was a common practice - and Ageas, a Roman also spent time in the Hunnic Court in return) Attila made much use of his time in the Roman Court to ensure that he learnt as much he could about the military tactics of the Romans - and used this knowledge extremely well to his advantage later in his campaigns against Romans.

No half measures

When Attila attacks he attacks with a ferocity that made everyone tremble. Even the Visigoths and other ‘Barbarian’ tribes found the Hun horseman a fearsome sight. Attila had no stomach for half measures. When he waged war, it was all out war : with absolutely no regard for the city or its inhabitants. This reputation of ruthlessness had a massive psychological impact : and probably enabled him to win a lot easier than otherwise possible.

Wisdom

For all his fierce wars, he was also a wise and extremely tactical leader. Attila was adept at negotiations as much as he was in the art of war. His time in the Roman court no doubt enabled him to develop skills that most Huns would probably not have had : but over time, Attila became a shrew politician as much as he was a warrior.

Strategy

Attila the Hun was also a very good military strategist. He did not simply rush into battle - but rode to battle with a definitive plan built around making maximum use of his enemies’ weaknesses. His conquests was not simply about reckless abandon, but carefully planned and well executed campaigns with a definitive end in mind.

Click here to view a documentary on Hunnic warfare

From an orphan to an emperor

Attila the Huns rise is praiseworthy, and his accomplishments will certainly be remembered.

The type of war he waged caught the Romans by surprise, and they certainly were not quite ready to be able to defend themselves well enough. Though absolutely rughless and certainly barbaric in many ways, Attila the Hun teaches us the importance of tenacity, bravado and dedicated ambition. His legacy is that a simple horde of horseman could bring an empire to its knees !

The entirety of the Western World may well have painted him black - but in his defense - Attila was no more bloodthirsty that Alexander or Caesar before him.

Ambition

What is very clear about Attila’s character is that the ambition to rule ‘the world’ set in at a very young age. Fueled by a prophesy and tempered with life’s challenges, Attila’s ambition was deep rooted - and all encompassing.

Dedication

Attila did not simply inherit his empire : he had to work hard at it. He worked on this with a dedication that was as all encompassing as his ambition. He was clear in his head about what needed to be done, and went about it with precision and sheer courage and dedication.

Marking time

What probably makes Attila extremely effective was the fact that he was able to ‘bid time’ and wait for the opportune moment to present itself. He did not make too many rash decisions and was able to weigh the pros and the cons very well. Attila’s ability to be patient coupled with his ruthlessness and ambition made a very powerful combination and made him the empire builder he was.

A bloody Legacy...

Attila the Hun is synonymous : much like Genghis Khan as a blood thirsty conqueror who ravaged everything that lay in his path. In the Western World Attila the Hun is synonymous with death, destruction and sheer barbarianism.

However, just like Genghis Khan, Attila is considered a hero in Hungary and other parts of the then Hunnish Empire. He is also considered a wise and very calculating ruler who was able to make the Hunnish Empire much more vast - and also richer in culture and administration.

Probably the most endearing fact about Attila is that he understood the role of Leadership very well, and what remains of his ‘advice’ to his fellow Huns on Leadership is as astute as any Leadership book today.

Final thoughts

Attila the Hun challenged the might of Rome - and proved that warring tribes can be brought together towards a common objective. He extended his empire and brought absolute fear wherever he roamed. Above all else, he was able to inspire his people to do what few in his time even thought possible. His leadership lessons are certainly something to learn from

Credits and acknowledgements

This article was inspired by the book ‘Leadership Lessons from Attila the Hun’ by Dr. Wess Roberts (ISBN 9780446391061)as well as the Movie ‘Attila the Hun’

We have also sought insights from numerous videos (most links are in the article itself) and also internet based reading.

Click here to watch the movie on YouTube

Click here to buy the book

Lead Like Genghis Khan

From Nomadic Tribes he began the greatest empire the world ever saw !

The Mongols were consider petty barbarians by their biggest neighbor China, and treated them with contempt and disdain. Genghis Khan unified the waring tribes, invaded China and laid the foundation for the biggest empire in the world!

Genghis Khan (c. 1162 – August 1227), born Temujin and also known by the temple name Taizu, was the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. After founding the Mongol Empire and being proclaimed "Genghis Khan", he started the Mongol invasions that would result in the conquest of most of Eurasia. These included raids or invasions of the Kara-Khitan Khanate, Caucasus, Khwarezmid Empire, Western Xia and Jin dynasties. These campaigns were often accompanied by wholesale massacres of the civilian populations – especially in Khwarezmia. By the end of his life, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China.

Before Genghis Khan died, he assigned Ögedei Khan as his successor and split his empire into khanates among his sons and grandsons.[7] He died in 1227 after defeating the Western Xia. He was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in Mongolia at an unknown location. His descendants went on to stretch the Mongol Empire across most of Eurasia by conquering and/or creating vassal states out of all of modern-day China, Korea, the Caucasus, Central Asian countries, and substantial portions of modern Eastern Europe, Russia and the Middle East. Many of these invasions resulted in the large-scale slaughter of local populations, which have given Genghis Khan and his empire a fearsome reputation in local histories.[8] Mongol campaigns may have resulted in the deaths of 40 million people."[9]

Beyond his military accomplishments, Genghis Khan also advanced the Mongol Empire in other ways. He decreed the adoption of the Uyghur script as the Mongol Empire's writing system. He also promoted religious tolerance in the Mongol Empire, and created a unified empire from the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. Present-day Mongolians regard him as the founding father of Mongolia.[10]

(copied from Wikipedia - click here to read more)

Genghis Khan - the man

Click the following links to view an 8 part video on Genghis Khan and his accomplishments

• BBC Documentary on Genghis Khan

Destiny fulfilled

Legend has it that Genghis Khan was born with a blood clot clenched in his fist - a traditional Mongol sign that he would be king one day. Whether this is true or not, one thing that was clear from a very early on on his life was that he believed that it was his destiny to rule : not just his tribe - but the whole world ! His Vision, and his sheer drive ensured he ended up making Mongolia the biggest land empire the world had ever seen !

Determination

‘Temujin’ as he was known in his childhood had to ensure many hardships. His father was poisoned when he was very small, and the rest of his tribe did not accept him as their leader. His mother was left unprotected, and he was taken as a slave more than once. Barely escaping death on several occasions, Genghis Khan had to endure many harrowing hardships - and what shone through is his determination and courage : and resilience. These characteristics enabled him to survive and become the Great Leader he became

Learning and Curiosity

Though Genghis Khan was not tutored (like Alexander) he was naturally curious and eager to learn. He observed his own culture and people very well - and ensured he also understood and learnt about his opponents (specially the Chinese.) He also learnt much from his own mistakes, ensuring that he grew stronger with the experience. This thirst for knowledge and ability to assimilate knowledge enabled him to become innovative, and wage war in a manner that bewildered his enemies.

A clear Vision

Genghis Khan always had a very clear Vision. He wanted to unite the warring tribes, and make sure Mongolia became an empire. His loathing of the Chinese tempered with an iron will developed during his childhood ensured his Vision was all encompassing. What is remarkable is that even having accomplished so much, and ensuring he realized his ambition of creating an enviable empire, he is supposedly have died claiming he did not fulfill his destiny ! This Vision enabled all Mongols fighting by his side realize that there was more to them than simply warring with each other : a new sense of purpose which they never had as a nation.

A code of honour

Genghis Khan developed a very strong code of conduct/honiur which was called ‘Yassa’ which is supposedly have been an extremely well crafted and detailed document. The entire Mongol Empire tan based on the principles detailed within the Yassa. Having such a comprehensive code enabled Genghis Khan to ensure that there was ‘rule of law’ and that there was something that bonded the entire nation together. He understood the importance of ensuring everyone needed to be subjected to a set of equitable regulations.

Click here to read about the Yassa

Discipline and training

Genghis Khan understood rather early on as a Leader that he would not be able to take on the might of China unless his army was discipline and well trained. The Mongols were always fiersome fighters - skilled with the bow and riding their horses - but they lacked the ability to fight as a cohesive unit : under a unified command. Genghis Khan changed this - and ensured his army was drilled to perfection : and this made all the difference. His military victories were very impressive - and it as all possible because of the training and discipline of his army.

Click here to view the Mongols invasion of Europe

innovation

Genghis Khan also brought in innovation to traditional warfare. His engineers were charged with perfecting weapons of war - and ensuring they learnt from the technologies of their enemies - specially from he Chinese. The trebutchets, catapults, and other devices played a huge role in ensuring Genghis was able to take down heavily fortified cities : and ensure they gained pivotal victories. He also ensured that he kept on innovating his weapons of war, so that he was able to be even more effective as time went by.

Speed and Agility

Genghis Khan’s biggest weapon was his army’s speed and agility. Hordes of mounted archers and soldiers were not a common sight, and he ensured he used it to his utmost advantage. His speed enabled him to move across terrains much faster than his enemies, and enabled him to wage a very different form of war that most were used to. The ability to simply move in and out of the enemies reach was a huge advantage the Mongols had - which made fighting against them exceedingly difficult.

To build an empire is one thing, to make it last, another

Genghis Khan’s empire lasted well after his death, and future successors made it even more impressive. What is noteworthy is that even though Genghis Khan was illiterate, he ensured he introduced language, culture, city planning, artistry, academic endeavors and even diverse religions to take root in Mongolia. He was a statesman as much as a warrior, and it is because of this that he is considered the ‘founder of Mongolia’

Genghis Khans legacy is an empire few thought possible - specially fo the unheard of Mongols. Much of what he started still echoes today in the steppes of Mongolia.

Written Language

The Mongols never had a written language until Genghis Khan introduced it. At the very beginning of the Mongol Empire around 1204, Genghis Khan defeated the Naimans and captured an Uyghur scribe called Tata Tunga, who then adapted the Uyghur alphabet — a descendant of the Syriac alphabet, via Sogdian — to write Mongol. With only minor modifications, it is used in Inner Mongolia to this day. Much of the history of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian empire would be lost to us if not for their written language

Click here to read more about the written language of the Mongols

Culture

Whenever Genghis Khan subued a city, he send the artisans he captured to his capital city. This ensured that culture flourished in Mongolia and a vast city with a hive of activity started to take place : somewhat uncommon to Mongols till then. This ensured that the empire became much more than mere acquisition of land - and ensured that the entire country began a journey that was unsurpassed since then.

Click here to read more about the Mongolian culture

Religious Tolerance

Genghis Khan was very tolerant towards all religions. As such, many religious refugees came to his kingdom, and enriched the city/country. His tolerance also ensured that he was able to draw into his army, all those whom he conquered. During a time and age when religious oppression was common place, his tolerance was truly note worthy.

A Barbarian or a King of Kings ?

How Genghis Khan is perceived depends on which script you read. For the Mongolians he was simply a hero : a king of kings : but for many whom he conquered he was a blood thirty barbarian. It is believed that during his tenure he killed well over 5 million people !

However you may want to view him, what is important to note is hat his empire was twice as large as the much celebrated Roman Empire. To think that what was simply a group of Nomads achieving this is quite staggering, and speaks volumes about Genghis Khan’s military strategy as well as his ability to organize an empire.

What is also impressive is the decisiveness of his actions : and the cultural strides taken by his people during his reign. Many historian agree that Genghis Khan certainly earns the right to be spoken of in the same breadth as an Alexander or a Caesar.

Final thoughts

Genghis Khans life and accomplishments are a great source of insight to prove the might of a compelling Vision, and the impact of a well executed strategy. It also showcases that one can use one’s resources to ones best advantage : even though it may not be considered a strength by others.

Credits and acknowledgements

This article was inspired by a Mongolian Movie named ‘Mongol’ and a novel by Conn Iggulden named ‘Lords of the Bow’

The key attributes identified are based on historical research conducted via the web, as well as through documentaries on YouTube (links provided in the article)

Click here to watch the movie on YouTube

Click here to buy the Novel ‘Lord of the Bows’

Lead Like Gandhi

He brought freedom to a nation - without ever resorting to violence !

In the annals of civilizations, probably the ONLY person who has never resorted to violence in gaining freedom is Gandhi - which makes him a wonderful inspiration

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement. A pioneer of satyagraha, or resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience — a philosophy firmly founded upon ahimsa, or total nonviolence — Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.[2] Gandhi is often referred to as Mahatma ([məɦaːt̪maː]; Sanskrit: महात्मा mahātmā or "Great Soul," an honorific first applied to him by Rabindranath Tagore).[3] In India, he is also called Bapu (Gujarati: બાપુ, bāpu or "Father") and officially honoured as the Father of the Nation. His birthday, 2 October, is commemorated in India as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, in the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he set about organising peasants, farmers, and urban labourers in protesting excessive land-tax and discrimination. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, ending untouchability, increasing economic self-reliance, but above all for achieving Swaraj — the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led Indians in protesting the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (250 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930, and later in calling for the British to Quit India in 1942. He was imprisoned for many years, on many occasions, in both South Africa and India.

Gandhi strove to practice non-violence and truth in all situations, and advocated that others do the same. He lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha. He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as means of both self-purification and social protest.

Copied from Wikipedia - click here to read more

Click here for a documentary on Gandhi

Asserting without power

Probably the biggest lesson Gandhi taught the world is that power does not have to mean violence or political power - or even physical prowess. Being able to be ‘passively’ resistant was far more powerful than the entire might of the biggest empire at the time - and if this is not enough to prove that one cannot get what you want done without resorting to violence or immoral deeds, then, Gandhi has lived and died in vain !

Principles, Morals and Ethics

Probably one of the biggest legacies of Gandhi was to be able to remain true to his morals, Values and Ethics, and never falter in it. What he called ‘Truth’ was on the top of his list of priorities, and nothing was worth letting go of a principle he believed in devoutly. This is what offered Gandhi the ability to take on the British - with a far more superior footing - that of a battle between ‘right’ and ‘might.’ Being able to take the moral high ground enabled Gandhi to lead with pride and a massive advantage !

Walking the talk and impartiality

Gandhi did not differentiate or play favorites. His message was the same : his expectations were the same : and he treated everyone the same too. He also demanded of himself a lot more than what he demanded from others. This enabled him to have integrity at all times, thereby having a massive impact whenever he spoke - and even more impact when he threatened to perform ‘sathyagraha’ (refraining from taking any food or water until his demands were met.) The instance when he asks his wife to clean the lavatories is a classic example of his impartiality

Resilience and courage

Gandhi had tremendous resilience. He did not let anything disturb him, or his Vision for a free India. He was able to withstand being struck by policeman, be ridiculed, jeered and taunted - and finally, imprisoned for countless years - all in the name of the cause - and best of all, being able to remain unruffled and in no way angered. This amount of resilience and personal courage in being able to ensure his morals were upheld is extremely potent in being able to demand the same from his followers - without ever having to demand it - as such personal integrity naturally attracts followers.

Speaking from the heart

Gandhi was a great orator. He could rouse a population by talking to them, and had the uncanny ability to make it seem as if though he was speaking to just one person - so that everyone in the audience thought that he was speaking to him/her alone. This is because he spoke from the heart. There were no guiles, no pretenses, no bravado, no ego. It was just the Mahatma, and his message. This ability to speak so emotionally, invoking tremendous emotions within the audience enabled Gandhi to sway public opinion like no other. When he spoke, India was wrapped !

Click here to listen to one of Gandhi’s speeches

Grooming Successors

Gandhi selflessly groomed others. There were many whom he took under his wing - notably Nehru, to whom he was very much a mentor. The fact that Nehru would become Prime Minister was of no consequence to Gandhi - for he did not vie for glory or recognition for his efforts. It also made him a far better teacher, as he genuinely wanted his ‘pupils’ to succeed, and was not jealous of their success or deeds. This enabled him to spread his message with much more impact !

Understanding the followers

Gandhi upon his return from South Africa spent many years traveling the length and breadth of India getting ‘to know’ his fellow countrymen. This enabled him to get a good grasp of what ‘real’ India was all about : and this is what gave him the ability to truly speak to the masses. The fact that Gandhi understood the mood and sentiment of the wider population so well is what made him the powerful swayer of opinion he was - the key was that he honestly understood those whom he led. The fact that he knew things first hand, and experienced them with those he was to later lead made him an extremely sensitive leader too.

Personal Sacrifice

What many do not realize is that Gandhi had to make many personal sacrifices in order for him to be as effective as he was in ensuring the end objective was met. He had to ensure much abuse - both emotional and physical, he had to spend time in jail, he had to forego much of his personal life, and he had to also see one of his own sons commit suicide claiming ‘Gandhi was the father to the nation but no father to me !’ Sacrifices are required when one leads a nation - the difference with Gandhi was that he made them selflessly, with no personal gain what so ever.

Servant Leadership

What Mahatma Gandhi espoused is what is commonly known as ‘Servant Leadership’ today. The basic principle is that the Leader is a servant to others, and the duty and responsibility of a leader is to ensure that his/her followers achieve success/fulfillment. This is in stark contrast to the power and ego centric leadership that many leaders such as Alexander, Churchill, Caesar and Napoleon demonstrated. Though we are not in any form debating which of the different styles of Leadership is actually more suited, we have to give credence to the fact that Gandhi is probably the closest that humanity has seen to what each of the scriptures (in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity) discussed as Leadership.

What Gandhi demonstrated is the essence of selfless leadership - certainly a lot more difficult to aspire to and live up to as compared to any other form !

The Leader the Servant

What is the role of a Leader ? In the eyes of Gandhi, the Leader’s only duty is to serve those whom he/she leads. Gandhi’s life is a great example of a leader being a true servant to the population he led. His only aim and objective was to gain freedom - and to ensure India was self sufficient. Ensuring the other’s needs was put to the fore ensured he led selflessly.

Duty and Responsibility

Gandhi believed in duty and responsibility above all else. He saw Leadership as a duty and a responsibility, not as a title or a privilege. This makes a huge difference in how we view leadership.

Ensuring that the duty is fulfilled was important to Gandhi - and this is why he was able to go through all the hardships in a placid manner - with a smile. Nothing was more important than ensuring his duty was fulfilled. This level of self sacrifice enables others to follow by sheer awe of demonstrated greatness of character

Love and Compassion

Love and Compassion were cornerstones of Gandhi’s life. He was able to show compassion and love even to those who sort to cause him harm - even to the person who shot him to death. Love and Compassion enables followers to bond to the leader with devotion and love in return. Gandhi stopped the violence that erupted after the secession of Pakistan simply by going on a hunger strike - the fact that he might die was enough for India to stand still, and listen.

In an age where violence has become the first resort, Gandhi’s examples shine even brighter !

Saint or Sinner ?

Gandhi was not perfect. His own son died a vagabond : distraught, broken and bitter - specially with his father. He certainly may have cast a great burden on his own family. His extreme focus on truth, duty and responsibility may well have weighed very heavily on his family. Gandhi is also blamed for the secession of Pakistan - and there are many who believe the independence India was was compromised because of Gandhi. There are also other more wild allegations against Gandhi.

Whether he was a saint or not is for history to decide. What is important is to understand the sheer example he led India with. There have been many leaders - but extremely few like Gandhi. His life and legacy is something many who are enlightened enough will try to emulate.

Probably the biggest impact Gandhi made on Leadership is to offer the POSSIBILITY to lead without ego and callousness - and without violance : something Nelson Mandela emulated.

Final thoughts

Mahatma Gandhi is probably one of the most influentials figures of our time. A towering symbol of compassion and love : and stalwart faith in Values and Ethics. The leadership lessons are difficult to mimic and emulate : but if one does, what would probably result in is a far more enlightened form of leadership than what prevails in todays society.

Credits and acknowledgements

This article was inspired by the movie Gandhi

It is impossible to go into the detail of a mammoth figure like Gandhi, and the article only aims to offer insights rather than details. The idea was to look at salient factors of Leadership, as seen through Gandhi’s life.

Click here to buy Gandhi DVD

Click here to watch the movie on YouTube

Lead Like Alexander

Preamble

At 22 he had conquered more than any mortal before him! History boasts of many great men, but few could match the aura and mythical stature of Alexander the Great. What made him such a powerful personality, and what can we learn from his life - to help us in Leadership ?

A quick bio

Alexander III of Macedon (20/21 July 356 – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great , a state in the north eastern region of Greece, and by the age of thirty was the creator of one of the largest empires in ancient history, stretching from the Ionian sea to the Himalaya. He was undefeated in battle and is considered one of the most successful commanders of all time.[1] Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander was tutored by the famed philosopher Aristotle. In 336 BC he succeeded his father Philip II of Macedon to the throne after Philip was assassinated. Philip had brought most of the city-states of mainland Greece under Macedonian hegemony, using both military and diplomatic means.

Upon Philip's death, Alexander inherited a strong kingdom and an experienced army. He succeeded in being awarded the generalship of Greece and, with his authority firmly established, launched the military plans for expansion left by his father. In 334 BC he invaded Persian-ruled Asia Minor and began a series of campaigns lasting ten years. Alexander broke the power of Persia in a series of decisive battles, most notably the battles of Issus and Gaugamela. Subsequently he overthrew the Persian king Darius III and conquered the entirety of the Persian Empire.i[›] The Macedonian Empire now stretched from the Adriatic sea to the Indus River.

Following his desire to reach the "ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea", he invaded India in 326 BC, but was eventually forced to turn back by the near-mutiny of his troops. Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC, without realizing a series of planned campaigns that would have begun with an invasion of Arabia. In the years following Alexander's death a series of civil wars tore his empire apart which resulted in the formation of a number of states ruled by the Diadochi – Alexander's surviving generals.

(copied from Wikipedia - click here to read more)

Alexanders Life and Time

Click in the following links to view videos on Alexanders Life and Times

• The true story of Alexander the Great
• In the footsteps of Alexander the Great (BBC documentary)
• Alexander the Great - a documentary

Leadership is an ART

There is no arguing that Leadership is an art - and not an exact science. Understanding Alexander’s methods and tactics allow us to gain insights, enabling us to broaden our horizons. But... simply applying them without understanding them, and taking it out of context can be disastrous. One has to understand that the environment in which we live is very different to that of Alexander - but the PRINCIPLES can still be applied.

Leading from the front

Alexander was a soldier first, a general second and finally a king. He always led from the front, and never asked his soldiers to do anything he would not demand from himself. This probably is the most endearing characteristic of the person. His valor was unsurpassed, his absolute faith in himself never faltered - and men naturally flocked by his side. In both battles against Darius the third (the emperor of Persia) the decisive factor was that Alexander charged, and Darius buckled and ran. When it mattered most, Alexander was there, and his arch rival was not. There really is no substitute for a leader than to lead by example !

Personal charisma

No matter what we say, we have to admit that personal charisma matters. Charisma alone does not make a leader, but charisma plays a pivotal role in creating the right image about a leader others willingly follow. Alexander had an aura about him. From his childhood he demonstrated a great thirst for battle - and greatness. He did NOT want to simply become king - he wanted more - much more ! His charisma was also compounded by the valor he demonstrated in the battle field. Having a good personality helps in the development of the aura that surrounds great leaders

Ability to unify under a common Vision that inspires

Alexander had a Vision that inspired all of Greece - not only the Macedonians. Rallying everyone around a common enemy helped Alexander unify warring factions, and bring together a group of men who were willing to die for the cause. Not only did Alexander have the Vision, but he ardently believed in it - and this is infectious in a leader. Having supreme faith is essential - irrespective of what the outcome. People naturally flock towards a leader who seems so absolute in his/her resolutions.

Re crafting problems

Impossible is nothing is something that Alexander proved by example. The sacking of Tyre which had hitherto been impregnable (the Persians could not take the island even after a 13 year old siege !) was a great example for this ! Tyre was essential to Alexanders plans - and rather than looking at the problem in the same way, Alexander re crafted it - and made a causeway to the island - thereby making it a ‘peninsula’ allowing his siege engines to take the walls. Being able to find solutions by re crafting problems was an essential skill Alexander possessed.

Click here to see a documentary on the battle of Tyre

Use of symbolism

Alexander understood the importance of using symbols. On many occasions he used symbolism to get poignant messages across - and to create a certain aura about him. Cutting the Gordian Knot was a prime example of this. The Gordian Knot was supposedly a knot that could never be undone - and by undoing it (or as is believed by many, cut) Alexander created unprecedented hype - that he was certainly above normal mortals - and as legend had it WILL become the ruler of Asia

Click here for a small clip on the Gordian Knot

Making Allies

Alexander understood that alliances are important. Even though he was a brilliant military strategist he understood only too well that war was only one of the tools to use towards achieving his objective of world dominance. Ensuring he had the right allies - and ensuring the allies remained allies was something he did with great diligence and often cunning. Being able to understand the psyche of people gave him a definitive edge - and he ensured his alliances were solidified. Marrying into the Royal family of Persia, and also sparing Porus’ life were great examples of Alexanders acumen as a politician as well.

Decisive actions

As a Leader, one is expected to take decisive action (whether or no it maybe right at all times.) Being decisive gives a leader credibility, and a lot of confidence to the followers. Alexander was extremely decisive - both in battle and in his handling of people in general. Of course, there were many instances he made wrong judgment calls, but the fact that he was decisive was appreciated by his team. His decisive action agains the revolt of Thebes ensured that there were no more mutiny in Greece - and his decisive action against cities that did not yield ensured easy victories. Alexander amply demonstrated the importance of decisive action.

A note on the ability to come up with a winning strategy

Alexander was a master tactician. The only reason that he succeeded in his audacious plans - with a far outnumbered army is the fact that he had the uncanny ability to out maneuver his enemies - time and again. The ability to come up with superior strategies is a hall mark of a great leader, and just like Alexander, business leaders of today need to understand that superior power and market shares mean nothing in the face of a great strategy meticulously executed !

What Alexander proved time and again is that he understood his strengths and weaknesses, and was able to strike when the first opportunity presented itself. His famous battles are a great example to understand how a well crafted strategy faultlessly executed can overcome any barrier, and move towards the achievement of the objective set.

The Battle of Issus

The battle of Issues saw Alexander outnumbered nearly six to one. This battles is possibly one of the most pivotal in history - and this, and Guagemela ensured that Darius was defeated summarily, and with it, the entirety of Persia open to Alexander.

Click here for a documentary on the Battle of Issus

Battle of Gaugamela

The battle of Guagemela sealed the fate of the Persian Empire. Darius was never able to regain control, nor raise another army. Darius outnumbered Alexander 5 to 1, and the site was also perfect for Darius to deploy his much larger army. He was also equipped with chariots which could slice through horses and men. But, even with superior manpower and terrain well suited for his army, Darius fell prey to much better morale, personal bravado of Alexander - and more importantly, Alexander’s ability to deploy a much more cohesive strategy that was faultlessly executed.

Click here for a documentary on the Guagemela battle

Defeating Porus

The battle of Hydeaspes pitted Porus of India against Alexander. Once again, Alexander was hugely outnumbered, and worse still, he encountered war elephants for the first time. Porus was certainly an accomplished King in his own right, but once again, Alexander was able to out maneuver Porus, and win a decisive battle.

Click here for a documentary on the battle at the River Hydaspes

Even ‘Great’ Leaders make mistakes

Alexander was no saint - nor was he perfect. He is allegedly have never drunk water - and drank wine instead - and as such, had been intoxicated almost all his life ! In a drunken stupa, cajoled by a courtesan, Alexander ordered the Palaces of Persia burnt - something he is supposedly have regretted once he sobered up. Alexander’s death marked the end of the empire - once again, a sign of not have a successor in place, which begs the question of his more long term orientation as a leader.

Alexander was also brutal - and committed many atrocities - and were he alive today, we would have certainly considered him being sent to the Hague ! As such, to paint Alexander in the same light as a Mahatma Gandhi or a Nelson Mandela in looking at Leadership is obviously wrong - but one has to give credence to the fact that Alexander influenced much of what we know of the world today, and his colonization of the East lay the foundation to Western thought and civilization taking root.

As such, when we are looking for inspiration in Alexander the Great, we need to ensure we put things in context, and understand that he made many mistakes - but was never the less, undefeated in war - demonstrating his uncanny ability to motivate his men, demand their love and loyalty and inspire them towards a Vision for which they gladly gave their lives. His leadership qualities enabled the world’s biggest empire to date - and probably one of the most romanticized !

Final thoughts

Alexander becomes a great source of insight to why and how leadership makes a difference> His life and legacy enables us to understand how Leaders influence others - and what key attributes enables such devotion and loyalty in a team.

Credits and acknowledgements

This article was inspired by a book by Lance Kirk (PhD) titled Alexander the Great - Leadership Lessons from the man who created an Empire (JAICO Publications ISBN 978-81-8495-043-4)

The key lessons from the book have been summarized, but we have also tried to bring in other references from the many History Channel videos which offers great insights to the campaigns and the life of Alexander the Great.

We have offered as many links as possible to offer more illustrations to what we have summarized in the article, as we thought it is best to be able to understand the concepts better.

Click here to buy Dr. Kirk’s book