4 Business Lessons From Iconic Leaders

4 Business Lessons From Iconic Leaders Looking at a titan of industry and seeing parallels is difficult. Nothing is easier than reading Steve Jobs’ resume and labeling him as a genius. He is on a different planet than everyone else and there are zero lessons you can learn from his success. In fact, you may think this about every iconic leader from Gandhi to Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill. They changed the world; you’ve set up a business. The thing is that these people are shining beacons for success. By following their leadership lessons, anyone from a conglomerate CEO to an SME owner can benefit. To prove it, below are four teachings from the greats that apply to running a business. Oprah Winfrey â€" “Surround yourself with people who will elevate you higher.” It’s important to see Oprah for what she is, and what she isn’t is a chat show host. Yes, she had a popular program but is also a powerful, wealthy, iconic woman in a male-dominated industry. How did she get there? Well, judging by the quote above she understood her flaws and employed people who could give her a boost. Businesses, especially startups, should do this as soon as possible. Using www.spectrumwise.com to take care of IT services is a no-brainer, as is outsourcing in general. If you lack skill and knowledge, hire someone who does to fill in the gaps. Nelson Mandela â€" “I’ve learned that courage wasn’t the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.” Mandela’s rise to power has been well documented. What is striking about him was his ability to tackle challenges head-on. Whether it was jail on Robben Island www.latimes.com has more insight or uniting a country, he never shirked a challenge. However, that doesn’t mean he was fearless. Bosses have to be willing to make mistakes and learn from them to succeed. And, they have to feel the fear of failure looming in the background as it provides perspective. Never be ashamed to say you’re scared, but don’t back away either. Abe Lincoln â€" “Bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” Ending slavery seems like an easy decision in 2018. Back in 19th century America, this wasn’t the case. Abe had to fight for other peoples’ right, and he received huge criticism along the way. But, the most important thing was that he knew he was right. Nothing is certain in business because no one can predict the future, but a person’s gut is intuitive. So are the facts and figures that are available today. If there is a pattern pointing in a certain direction, you should hold steady and play the long game. Eleanor Roosevelt â€" “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” To put a spin on this quote, you have to believe in their dreams, too. People who aren’t in power need a platform, and, as the boss, you have the biggest one in the company. Never be afraid of workers who are willing to take risks and understand the bigger picture. In fact, try and enable them wherever possible and cultivate their creativity. Mavericks are gambles, yet they also pay-off big. Doing things differently is not easy but vital to success nonetheless. What new habit can you learn to improve as a leader?